Wedding anniversary

38th Anniversary Gifts: Traditional, Modern, and Gemstone

Traditional
Beryl or tourmaline (US modern)
Modern (1948)
Beryl or tourmaline
Gemstone (1957)
(transitional)

38th anniversary: traditional and modern

The 38th wedding anniversary entry is part of the post-30 stretch of the published gift canon. The traditional designation is Beryl or tourmaline. The modern alternate is Beryl or tourmaline. The associated gemstone is .

Anniversary Atlas is publishing the full editorial entry for year 38 in the next refresh cycle. Until then, this page documents the canonical designations sourced from the 1937 traditional list, the 1948 modern alternate list, and the 1957 American Gem Society gemstone standard.

For a fully fleshed editorial treatment, see one of our milestone deep-dives: 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th.


Where to buy 38th-anniversary gifts

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Frequently asked questions

What is the 38th anniversary gift?

The traditional 38th anniversary gift is Beryl or tourmaline. The modern alternate is Beryl or tourmaline. The associated gemstone is (transitional).

What is the traditional 38th anniversary symbol?

Beryl or tourmaline. This entry comes from the 1937 Anniversary Books Bureau codification of the wedding-anniversary gift list, adopted by Emily Post and carried into every major published list since.

What is the modern 38th anniversary gift?

Beryl or tourmaline. The modern alternate list was published in 1948 by Chicago jeweler Helen Marek, updating the traditional list with more practical and contemporary categories.

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