18th Anniversary
gemstone: Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl.
Eighteen years — cat’s eye, the light that follows
Quick answer
The 18th anniversary gemstone is Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl. The 18th anniversary gemstone is cat’s eye chrysoberyl — a honey-gold stone cut in a dome so that a single ribbon of light slides across its surface as you tilt it, following you like an eye. The effect is called chatoyancy, and with chrysoberyl it is the real thing: every other gem that shows it must carry the qualifier, "cat’s eye quartz," "cat’s eye tourmaline" — only chrysoberyl owns the bare name. Eighteen years is an adulthood of marriage; the stone that watches over it should have that kind of seniority. Porcelain is the traditional eighteenth gift.
18th anniversary gift ideas
- ✓A cat’s eye chrysoberyl cabochon ring — the effect needs a dome, not facets
- ✓A cat’s eye pendant in yellow gold, honey-toned
- ✓A modest cat’s eye quartz if the true chrysoberyl strains the budget
Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl for your 18th
The 18th anniversary is the cat's eye chrysoberyl anniversary. Every piece below can be personalized with her own birthstone in a cat's eye chrysoberyl setting — cat's eye chrysoberyl for the milestone, her stone for her.
6-Stone necklace
Family Tree Birthstone Necklace
✦ Choose 2-6 birth months to represent your family
2-Stone ring
Birthstone Stack Ring Set (2 Rings)
✦ Choose 2 birth months for the two stones
S925 Sterling Silver
Birthstone Drop Necklace — All 12 Months
✦ Choose your birth month — 12 natural gemstones
18K Gold Vermeil
Birthstone Charm Hoops
✦ Choose birth month(s) — stack up to 4 charms per hoop
18th anniversary FAQ
What is the gemstone for the 18th anniversary?
The 18th anniversary gemstone is cat’s eye chrysoberyl — a honey-gold gem cut in cabochon so a single band of light glides across it, an effect called chatoyancy. Porcelain is the traditional eighteenth-year gift; cat’s eye is the assigned stone.
Why is cat’s eye chrysoberyl called the "true" cat’s eye?
Because the gem trade reserves the unqualified name for it alone. Quartz, tourmaline and beryl can all show the eye effect, but they must be sold with their species attached — "cat’s eye quartz" and so on. Only chrysoberyl cat’s eye, the finest and sharpest of them, is legally and traditionally just "cat’s eye."