Why is leather the 3 year anniversary gift?

By the third wedding anniversary, your relationship has proved to stand the test of time. It's durable and strong yet flexible, just like leather. This traditional gift theme is meant to represent your resiliency and adaptability as a married couple.

What is the best way to take care of leather?

Before cleaning leather, Hana says, you’ll need to first make sure you know what type of leather you’re working with. Is it calfskin? Cowhide? Pebble? You’ll then want to follow the three stages of cleaning: conditioning, polishing, and waterproofing. First, use a cloth to remove any dust. Then gently rub a very small amount of conditioner to test the product, continuing to rub in a circular motion with a separate cloth before letting it sit for 20 minutes, Hana says. Polishing next will restore the color. Again, rub a small amount of polish as a test. Continue in a gentle, circular motion and let it sit for a few minutes to ensure it doesn’t scratch. “If you’re working with more durable leather-like shoes or a belt, you can use the welt brush to apply the polish as it helps get into the cracks/crevices and for cleaning the stitch work,” advises Hana. “Be gentle to not scratch your leather. You can also use the horsehair brush to gently buffer the product if it's harder leather.” Let it sit for 20 minutes before waterproofing, in which you’ll repeat the same circular motions as before with beeswax and cloth. Wait another 20 minutes before using it. “Your leather product will be clean, waterproofed, and ready to use!” Hana says.

The 20 Best Leather Anniversary Gifts of 2024

Couple holding hands and carrying leather bags as they walk through a lobby — Fabrice LEROUGE / Getty Images

Flexible but durable, leather perfectly symbolizes a marriage. It's the traditional gift of the third anniversary, and for good reason–at this point in your relationship, you’re a solidified team, committed to still learning and adapting to your needs. You're resilient yet able to adjust–just like leather.

Lucky for you, this is one of the easiest traditional anniversary gift themes to shop for. It offers endless opportunities for personalization (always a good idea when it comes to thoughtful gifting), and leather accessories are both useful and stand the test of time, often developing a beautiful patina as they age.

"It’s important to understand that the quality difference about leather often depends on the layers of the material," says Jessica Hana, co-founder of the online store World Chic. “The topmost layer would be the most premium layer, and it goes down in quality from there,” she says.

From leather luggage and accessories to cookbooks and charging trays, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t come in leather. And a gift doesn't have to be real leather to fulfill the anniversary requirements—there are also vegan leather options that are just as luxe as the real deal. To help you find the perfect leather gift for your spouse, we've researched and selected the best options, keeping quality, cost, style, and functionality in mind.

Read on for the best leather anniversary gifts.

In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

Porter and Hazel

View On Etsy $21

From the outside, this looks like any standard leather bracelet. But on the inside, it’s a whole lot more. Whether it’s a sweet “I love you” or the date of your anniversary, you can get this cuff engraved with a secret message that only your spouse will see. The hand-cut leather is sealed for light weatherproofing and can be hand-dyed in your spouse’s favorite color.

IRONandGRAINusa

View On Amazon $30 View On Etsy $43

A leather catchall tray makes for the perfect home for watches, jewelry, keys, and more. Choose from six different colors and two different sizes, topping it off with a personalized engraving of your choice. Opt for a quote, a special message, the location coordinates of where you met or married, or the date of your anniversary.

Northwind Supply

View On Etsy $19

Spruce up your sweetheart’s home office setup with a leather mousepad. You can opt to buy a leather-only option or a pad with a non-slip surface underneath the leather. You can also get it stamped with your love's initials in gold or silver foil or without foil. Just note that however beautiful, the foil will likely fade over time with use.

Monica Vinader

View On Monicavinader.com

A jewel-toned box for some jewelry sounds just about right. Anyone who has ever left home without a travel jewelry box knows the pain of misplaced earrings and tangled necklaces. This leather box will help them get their act together, with dedicated holes for studs, compartments for bracelets, and a roll tray for rings.

Arte Of The Booke Custom Leather Journal

Etsy / Arte Of The Booke

View On Etsy $45

Maybe that special person is a writer or an artist, or maybe they just love to capture their thoughts and feelings. Either way, this journal will spark their innermost creativity. With a handcrafted leather-bound cover in a variety of colors and 192 pages made for doodling or writing, this journal is the perfect place to jot down their ideas.

Courant Catch 3 Essentials Wireless Charging Pad

Amazon

View On Staycourant.com $175 View On West Elm $125 View On Pottery Barn $100

It doesn’t get much niftier than a wireless charging tray. Throw on your smartphone and your earbuds, and they’ll get juiced up quickly thanks to a three-coil charger inside. There’s even an indented area next to the charger for the rest of your catch-all items like sunglasses and keys. Encased in either white or black pebble grain leather, it also makes for a great decor piece on the entryway table.

Samara

View On Samarabags.com

This pebbled leather tote can carry it all, whether you’re heading into the office for the day or hopping on a flight for a weekend away. It’s available in three different classic colors, so you’re bound to find one that will suit your spouse’s preference. It features a laptop slider, a key leash, interior pockets, and a vegan suede interior for a bag thats equally as functional as it is chic.

BBQ Guys

View On Zola $65 View On Bbqguys.com

Every serious grill master needs some protection from heat and grease splatters. The brown suede exterior with a flame-retardant lining in this leather grill apron will do just that. An adjustable neck strap will accommodate any size and two front pockets will keep turners, skewers, and ketchup right where the griller needs them.

Verishop

View On Verishop.com $27

Give those Airpods a nice home with a leather case cover. We love the bold evergreen hue on this one for a fun statement. The vivid color, coupled with a key ring, will make your AirPods hard to lose. A suede lining, snap closure, and keyhole charger entry further elevate both the look and function of this mini accessory.

Brother Vellies Lijadu Croc-Embossed Leather Shoulder Bag

Saks Fifth Avenue

View On Saks Fifth Avenue $402

This billfold purse is ready for a night out on the town. Made of black leather with a Kenyan hand-carved hardwood chain link and gold logo emblem, it’s crafted to last a very long time. At eight inches wide and seven inches high, it’s a tiny one, but interior pockets and a zip pouch will hold all the necessities.

Graphic Image

View On Food52 $140 View On Markandgraham.com $169

Sure, you can get recipes off the internet these days, but do those replace the experience of thumbing through Irma Rombauer’s classic, the “Joy of Cooking"? The chef in your life will appreciate this 75th-anniversary edition, especially since it comes in an embossed leather cover and gilded pages. Available in black, gold, nude, or oxblood, this is one cookbook that will always be displayed on the kitchen countertop.

Nana Jacqueline

View On Nanajacqueline.com

One for the coat closet, this mid-length leather jacket is both fashionable and warm with an oversized fit and fur detailing. Available in black, it adds an uber-chic look to any outfit and will go with anything from a dress and heels for a night out to a pantsuit for a day at the office. It’s sure to be a fall staple.

Ward Wallau Authentic Football Stadiums Relic Watches

Uncommon Goods

View On Uncommon Goods $425 View On Fanatics.com View On Nflshop.com

A watch made from salvaged seats from football stadiums is sure to delight the football fan. That’s exactly where the wood face in this watch comes from. Coupled with a vegan leather strap, laser-cut dial, mineral crystal, and brushed stainless steel case engraved with the stadium name, it’s a piece of football history that he can wear every day.

Mark & Graham

View On Markandgraham.com $139

Keep all your tech together with this sleek leather folio. It contains enough pockets and sleeves to hold everything from your iPad and phone charger to your phone and AirPods, with room for your credit cards to boot. It comes in two different sizes and four different colors. And, as always with Mark & Graham, you can personalize it with a foil-debossed monogram.

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom $99

One of the worst winter woes is heading out into the cold only to find that your gloves aren’t actually all that warm. These luxe leather gloves, though, promise to get the job done right. With a cashmere and wool lining, they’ll feel nice and cozy on those fingers and fit like...a glove.

Kiko Leather

View On Kikoleather.com

Your favorite bookworm will be all over this thoughtful gift. Crafted from genuine pebble leather, this elegant bookmark will ensure that your reader will never lose their place on the page. Plus, it will endure wear and tear much better than those old paper bookmarks that need to be replaced every few months.

Mark and Graham

View On Markandgraham.com $369

Perfect for a weekend away, this leather weekender bag is as handsome as it is functional. It comes in two different shades of brown (chocolate and caramel) and features a lined interior comfortable strap, and various pockets for maximum organization. Go the extra mile and personalize it with your spouse’s monogram.

Made Leather Co

View On Madeleathercompany.com

Every guy needs a good Dopp kit, and this one is everything he could want. A water-resistant interior will come in handy for those 2-in-1 shampoo spills, and a front zipper pocket will perfectly store those tweezers and q tips. Handcrafted from vegetable-tanned goat leather, it comes in cognac or black, which will go with any piece of luggage.

Leatherology

View On Leatherology.com

Maybe your spouse needs an organizer for their makeup or beauty essentials, or maybe they need a place to store pens and post-its in their home office. Either way, this colorful and trendy leather pouch featuring two interior pockets and a secure metal zip closure can take care of their needs.

Mark & Graham

View On Markandgraham.com $100

This carry-on suitcase will be the sleekest and chicest in the overhead bins. The soft vegan leather is lightweight and durable, while the spacious interior and zipper pockets make it functional for every weekend getaway or special anniversary trip.

What to Look for in a Leather Anniversary Gift

Type and quality

It's important to consider different types of leather and the quality. If it's lower quality, "it's typical to see a plastic coating on many leather bags," says Hana. That means, while it’s still real leather, it’s lower-quality leather. Look for smooth, supple material that feels natural.

Thoughtfulness

No matter how quality a gift might be, it truly is the thought that counts. Think about your partner's interests and tastes. When in doubt, gifts that allow for personalization are always a good idea. If they travel often, the Mark & Graham Leather Overnighter, which you can personalize with their initials, is an excellent choice. If they work from home, consider office essentials like the Northwind Supply Personalized Leather Mousepad or the Courant Wireless Phone Charging Leather Accessory Tray.

FAQ

Why is leather the 3 year anniversary gift?

By the third wedding anniversary, your relationship has proved to stand the test of time. It's durable and strong yet flexible, just like leather. This traditional gift theme is meant to represent your resiliency and adaptability as a married couple.
What is the best way to take care of leather?

Before cleaning leather, Hana says, you’ll need to first make sure you know what type of leather you’re working with. Is it calfskin? Cowhide? Pebble? You’ll then want to follow the three stages of cleaning: conditioning, polishing, and waterproofing.
First, use a cloth to remove any dust. Then gently rub a very small amount of conditioner to test the product, continuing to rub in a circular motion with a separate cloth before letting it sit for 20 minutes, Hana says. Polishing next will restore the color. Again, rub a small amount of polish as a test. Continue in a gentle, circular motion and let it sit for a few minutes to ensure it doesn’t scratch.
“If you’re working with more durable leather-like shoes or a belt, you can use the welt brush to apply the polish as it helps get into the cracks/crevices and for cleaning the stitch work,” advises Hana. “Be gentle to not scratch your leather. You can also use the horsehair brush to gently buffer the product if it's harder leather.”
Let it sit for 20 minutes before waterproofing, in which you’ll repeat the same circular motions as before with beeswax and cloth. Wait another 20 minutes before using it. “Your leather product will be clean, waterproofed, and ready to use!” Hana says.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributor Hillary Hoffower has over seven years of experience writing for the wedding industry, covering everything from bridal fashion trends to wedding decor. From purses to jackets, she’s purchased many leather and faux leather goods in her lifetime. She’s slowly building out a collection of pottery serving ware for her kitchen.