9th Anniversary
gemstone: Lapis Lazuli.
Nine years — lapis lazuli, the blue that cost more than gold
Quick answer
The 9th anniversary gemstone is Lapis Lazuli. The 9th anniversary gemstone is lapis lazuli, the deep royal blue with flecks of gold pyrite that history treated as a pigment before it treated it as a gem — ground into ultramarine, the most expensive paint color on earth for five centuries, the blue in Vermeer’s pearls and Renaissance Madonnas. Cleopatra ground it for eyeshadow. Nine years of marriage earns something with that kind of résumé: a stone that was always valuable, long before anyone was keeping lists. Willow and pottery are the traditional ninth gifts.
9th anniversary gift ideas
- ✓A lapis lazuli pendant in gold — the ultramarine classic
- ✓Lapis and gold beaded bracelet, pyrite stars included
- ✓A lapis intaglio-style ring, carved rather than faceted
Lapis Lazuli for your 9th
The 9th anniversary is the lapis lazuli anniversary. Every piece below can be personalized with her own birthstone in a lapis lazuli setting — lapis lazuli 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
9th anniversary FAQ
What is the gemstone for the 9th anniversary?
The 9th anniversary gemstone is lapis lazuli — the deep blue rock with gold pyrite flecks that Renaissance painters ground into ultramarine, a pigment once worth more than gold. Willow ware and pottery are the traditional ninth-year gifts; lapis is the assigned stone.
How can I tell good lapis lazuli from dyed jasper?
Look for the pyrite: genuine lapis shows small glittering gold flecks of iron pyrite, which dye cannot fake, and its blue varies naturally from stone to stone. Dyed jasper or howlite reads flat and uniform, and a swab with acetone can lift the dye. The finest deep-blue lapis with minimal white calcite comes from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan mines, worked for six thousand years.