14th Anniversary Gifts
On the traditional list, ivory stands for the 14th anniversary, and the modern list gives gold jewelry. Elephant ivory carries its own signature: crossing arcs called Schreger lines, seen in cross section and shared only by mammoth ivory, a paper for the American Institute for Conservation explains.
14th Anniversary Gifts at a glance
| Traditional gift | Ivory |
|---|---|
| Modern gift | Gold jewelry |
| Gemstone (GIA list) | Opal (October birthstone) |
| Length of marriage | 5,113 or 5,114 days (3 or 4 February 29s) |
Why ivory for the fourteenth anniversary?
Ivory is the dentine that makes up elephant tusks and some other animal teeth. Tusks are elephants' incisors, built of dentine and cementum, explains a paper published by the American Institute for Conservation. Elephant ivory has been prized as a luxury carving material across cultures since ancient times. In North America it was used for combs, handles, billiard balls and piano keys.
In the 19th century, the US was the world's largest consumer of ivory. For about 150 years, from the 1830s to the 1980s, the country's largest ivory plant ran in Ivoryton, a village in Essex, Connecticut. At one time it processed up to 90% of the elephant ivory imported into the US.
Ivory laws and ivory look-alikes
- In the US, a 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule bans nearly all commercial trade in African elephant ivory. Narrow exceptions cover antiques and some items with under 200 grams of ivory.
- Some states go further. California bans buying or selling nearly all ivory, including mammoth, walrus, hippo and whale ivory. New York bans most sales of elephant and mammoth ivory.
- Want the look of ivory without the legal questions? Conservators name bone and "vegetable ivory" from the tagua nut as traditional stand-ins. Ask the seller what the piece is made of.
14th anniversary gift ideas
- Ivory-colored things: cream bedding, stationery or a vase
- A piano lesson or concert, for the ivory keys
- An ivory-toned photo frame for a wedding picture
- A gold chain, bangle or signet ring (modern)
When is your 14 year wedding anniversary?
More date tools: Anniversary Calculator, Birthday Calendar, What Day Was I Born.
Anniversary gifts for other years
14th Anniversary Gifts questions
What is the 14 year anniversary gift?
Ivory is the classic answer and gold jewelry the modern one. Ivory as a color or theme sidesteps the legal limits on the real thing. Vintage celluloid is another route: one of the main uses of that 19th-century plastic was as an ivory substitute.
Is it legal to give ivory as a gift?
In the US, yes, if you already own it legally and nothing is exchanged for it. The federal wildlife agency says the law does not bar giving away lawfully acquired ivory, and suggests passing on any ownership records.
Is mammoth ivory legal in the US?
Under federal wildlife law, largely yes. Ivory from extinct species such as mammoths is not regulated under the federal wildlife laws.
Published October 9, 2026. Last updated November 5, 2026.