Eleventh Anniversary Stone: Turquoise
The eleventh wedding anniversary stone is turquoise, a soft blue-green stone. Here's what it is, how it holds up to everyday wear, and how to turn it into a piece worth keeping.
Key takeaways
- The traditional 11th anniversary stone is turquoise, while several modern lists swap in golden citrine.
- Turquoise is soft, sitting at only 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, so it wants protective settings and gentle handling.
- Most turquoise on the market today is stabilised, meaning it has been treated with resin to harden it and hold its colour.
- Its blue-green colour comes from copper, and the darker "veins" running through a stone are traces of the rock it grew in.
- Citrine, the modern pick, is a much tougher quartz at 7 on the scale, so it suits rings for everyday wear better than turquoise does.
- Vanhess designs and sets both stones by hand in our Coquitlam workshop, matching the setting to how the piece will be worn.
What is the 11th anniversary stone?
The 11th anniversary stone is turquoise. That is the traditional answer, and it is the one most people mean when they ask. The gift lists split a little here, though. Some modern anniversary guides list citrine instead, the warm golden quartz, and both are fair game for an eleventh. We think it is worth knowing which one you are choosing and why, because the two stones behave very differently once they are set in a ring or a pendant. If you want to see how eleven fits into the wider run of years, our anniversary stones guide lays the whole list out.
What turquoise actually is
Turquoise is an opaque blue-green mineral coloured by copper. You have almost certainly seen it: the robin's-egg blue of a good stone is unmistakable, and the darker lines that web across many pieces are the surrounding rock it formed inside, called matrix. Some buyers love that veining and some want a clean, even blue. Neither is wrong. What matters more is the hardness. Turquoise sits at only 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, which puts it among the softer stones a jeweller works with. For comparison, a sapphire is a 9 and a diamond is a 10. That softness is the single most important thing to understand before you buy, because it decides everything about setting and care. Most turquoise sold now is also stabilised, which means it has been soaked with a clear resin to harden the surface and stop the colour fading with skin oils and sunlight. Stabilised turquoise is not fake; it is a practical treatment that makes a fragile natural stone wearable. Untreated, high-grade turquoise exists and costs a great deal more.
Why turquoise for year eleven
Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones people have worn, dug and traded for thousands of years across Persia, Egypt and the American Southwest. Its long history of being passed between hands and cultures is part of why it landed on the eleventh: a colour and a stone with real staying power, given at a point in a marriage where the newness has worn off and something steadier has set in. We would not sell you the folklore as fact, but the plain version holds up. It is a stone people have valued and kept for a very long time. The modern alternative, citrine, carries a sunnier, more literal message, its golden colour standing in for warmth. You can read more about the family it belongs to in our gemstone guide.
Choosing a piece for your 11th
Here is where the hardness earns its keep. Because turquoise is soft and can chip, we steer people away from turquoise rings for daily wear, especially on a hand that gets used. A ring knocks against door handles, keyboards and car doors all day, and a 5-to-6 stone will show it. If your heart is set on a turquoise ring, ask for a bezel setting, which wraps a rim of metal fully around the stone and shields the edges. For a stone this soft, that protection is not a luxury, it is the sensible choice. Better still, put turquoise where it takes fewer knocks: a pendant, a pair of earrings, or a brooch. Those pieces let the colour do its work without the daily punishment a ring takes. If you want a stone you can wear every day without a second thought, this is a strong argument for going with the modern option instead. Citrine at a Mohs 7 is far more forgiving, holds up in a ring, and its amber-gold colour pairs beautifully with yellow gold. Whichever way you lean, we design and set both stones by hand here in Coquitlam, and you can start a one-off piece through our bespoke anniversary service. Bringing in a favourite old turquoise from a family piece and having it reset is one of the nicest eleventh-anniversary projects we do.
Caring for a soft stone
Turquoise needs a gentler routine than most gems. Keep it away from perfume, hairspray, lotion and household cleaners, because it is porous and will drink them in and dull over time. Put your jewellery on last, after you are dressed and scented, and take it off first. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner on turquoise; the heat and vibration can crack it or drive the resin out of stabilised stones. To clean it, wipe it with a soft, barely damp cloth and dry it straight away. Store it apart from harder jewellery so a diamond or sapphire cannot scratch it in the box. Treated well, a turquoise piece will keep its colour for decades. Citrine is far less fussy, though warm soapy water and a soft brush is all either stone really needs.
Turn your eleventh anniversary stone into a piece you’ll wear
Bring the year, the stone and a rough budget. Our on-site goldsmith in Coquitlam will design it with you — reset a stone you already own, or build something new around the right gem.
Prefer to talk? Call our studio at (604) 653-6449.Frequently asked questions
What is the 11th anniversary gemstone?
Turquoise is the traditional 11th anniversary stone. Some modern anniversary lists use citrine, the golden quartz, instead. Both are appropriate, so you can choose based on colour preference and how the piece will be worn.
Is turquoise durable enough for an everyday ring?
Not really. Turquoise is soft, sitting at 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it can scratch and chip with daily knocks. It is much happier in a pendant, earrings, or a brooch. If you want a turquoise ring, choose a protective bezel setting and expect to treat it gently.
What does it mean when turquoise is stabilised?
Stabilised turquoise has been treated with a clear resin that hardens the surface and locks in the colour so it will not fade or crumble. It is a common, honest treatment that makes a naturally fragile stone practical to wear. Untreated high-grade turquoise is available but far more expensive.
Why do some turquoise stones have dark lines running through them?
Those lines are called matrix. They are traces of the host rock the turquoise formed inside. Some people love the veined look and some prefer a clean, even blue. It is a matter of taste, not quality, though very even stones tend to cost more.
Should I choose turquoise or citrine for an 11th anniversary?
If the recipient loves blue-green colour and will wear it in a pendant or earrings, turquoise is a lovely, storied choice. If you want a durable stone for an everyday ring, citrine at a Mohs 7 holds up far better and gives a warm golden colour.
How do I clean turquoise jewellery?
Wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it right away. Keep it away from perfume, lotion, and cleaning products, and never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, as the heat and vibration can damage it. Store it separately so harder stones do not scratch it.
Can Vanhess reset an old turquoise stone into a new piece?
Yes. Resetting a family turquoise into a fresh pendant or ring is one of the more rewarding eleventh-anniversary projects we take on. We handle the design and setting by hand in our Coquitlam workshop through our bespoke anniversary service.
Is turquoise a good gift if my partner works with their hands?
For someone hard on their jewellery, we would steer away from a turquoise ring and suggest a pendant or earrings instead, or the modern citrine option in a ring. Turquoise is too soft to take constant knocks without showing wear.