Crystal Anniversary Gifts

April 1, 2006 10:15 AM

My wife and I are approaching our fifteenth anniversary, which, by tradition, is the crystal anniversary. We don't need stemware, and we don't do new age healing. Do you have any suggestions for gifts?
posted by barjo to shopping (27 comments total)

If you go by the modern list, fifteenth is watches. A gentleman/lady matching pair of watches? Some diamonds on hers perhaps?
posted by meerkatty at 10:19 AM on April 1, 2006

(1) A piece of decorative crystal, like a paperweight.
(2) Gemstones are (mostly) crystals.
(3) Metal is crystalline.
(4) Something your wife would like, then think up some reason why it relates to crystals.
(5) Take a trip down south and eat at a Krystal's, which is like White Castle but skeezier. They have them in FL, if that's someplace you'd like to go.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:20 AM on April 1, 2006

When you said crystal, I right away thought of the beautiful Swarovski crystals.
posted by rio at 10:20 AM on April 1, 2006

Liquid Crystal Display.

Big screen!
posted by ferociouskitty at 10:20 AM on April 1, 2006

As a Materials scientist, I will point out that most solids (glass being a notable exception) are crystalline.

Alternatively, if you'd like to be extravagant, take a trip to Venice and visit Murano (the island legendary for glass-blowing). You can buy something (again, technically not crystalline, but ah well) as a souvenir.
posted by JMOZ at 10:21 AM on April 1, 2006

Oooh...I like JMOZ's suggestion - trip to Venice. Definitely! Buy duty free watches on the flight over!
posted by meerkatty at 10:25 AM on April 1, 2006

Swarovski makes some absolutely lovely crystal Christmas ornaments. I got a couple of them as gifts from Macy's in NY a few years ago. Really gorgeous.
posted by Malor at 10:27 AM on April 1, 2006

If you're cruise people, there's a cruise line called Crystal Cruises.
posted by MsMolly at 10:35 AM on April 1, 2006

If you go by the modern list, fifteenth is watches.

Get something with a nice quartz movement and you're covered either way.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:47 AM on April 1, 2006

That modern list is alot steeper than the traditional, ten years to diamonds versus sixty.

Alternatively to going to Italy, since you've in Mass. Drive up to Quechee, Vermont and visit Simon Pearce's spread.
posted by fenriq at 10:54 AM on April 1, 2006

Depends on your windows in your house, but what about replacing one (or more) of the normal ones with tailor made stained glass windows?

Not crystal I know, but kinda close and looks fantastic on a sunny day.
posted by selton at 10:55 AM on April 1, 2006

Sorry, you're and

Here's a link to a review of his glass blowing workshop and restaurant.
posted by fenriq at 10:57 AM on April 1, 2006

selton beat me to it, a commissioned stained glass window with maybe a tiny element of crystal would be a permanent celebration (unless of course you plan on moving in the near future!).
posted by ceri richard at 11:05 AM on April 1, 2006

Or a trip to Ireland to visit the Waterford Crystal factory. :)

They also make some pretty nice lamps. How about one for the bedside, if you're in to that decor?
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:19 AM on April 1, 2006

How about a quartz watch? That way you get the old and new lists in one gift.
posted by Kickstart70 at 11:36 AM on April 1, 2006

Buy a crystal chandelier.

Even if you are not "into it", it can be fun in a bathroom or any room, especially if you use colored bulbs.
posted by bru at 11:40 AM on April 1, 2006

Oooh, his n hers Waterford crystal pens!
posted by ceri richard at 11:51 AM on April 1, 2006

a trip to copper canyon to see the giant crystals.
posted by luriete at 12:21 PM on April 1, 2006

One of these Your DNA in a Crystal jewelry items?
posted by greatgefilte at 2:00 PM on April 1, 2006

How about an evening watching "When Harry Met Sally" starring Billy Crystal, and drinking a bottle of 1996 Louise Roederer "Cristal" Rated 94 points by Wine Spectator. You can skip the movie, but a great champagne is a lifelong memory.
posted by generic230 at 2:02 PM on April 1, 2006

I'm partial to camera lenses.
posted by jimmythefish at 2:13 PM on April 1, 2006

You could try tracking down some Crystal Pepsi.
posted by drewbeck at 3:25 PM on April 1, 2006

Relive the years when you were dating: mix up a pitcher of Crystal Light and settle in for a "Dynasty" marathon.
posted by rob511 at 3:43 PM on April 1, 2006

Crystal meth?
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 7:35 PM on April 1, 2006

If you're a science geek then these are rather groovy. Not exactly crystal, but damn pretty, witha slight tinge of violence. Perfect for a 25th! ;)
posted by ninazer0 at 4:18 AM on April 3, 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm going with Waterford Crystal, supplemented by some Crystal Light, a Crystal Gayle CD, and a book by Billy Crystal. But keep suggestions coming.
posted by barjo at 4:29 AM on April 3, 2006

I'm late to this thread, but since I went through this last year, here's what I did.

My wife and I always work off of the traditional list, and saw it was crystal. Now I had already known this, and purchased a beautiful pair of Swarovski crystal earrings. (similar to these). But while we were talking, my wife said "Ugh. Crystal, I hate crystal. Don't get me any of that."

Well, I gave them anyway, and she loved them, wears them all the time (including this weekend to a dress up dinner function), and she always gets many nice comments about them. Then she tells them the story. I think she was only thinking of knick knack crystal bears or something.

And I wish I had thought of all the other crystal options listed here. Billy Crystal DVDs would have been a funny addition.
posted by genefinder at 7:13 AM on April 3, 2006