Milestone Birthdays: A Gift Guide

Birthdays are special occasions that mark another year of life, but milestone birthdays hold a significance that calls for extra celebrations. Whether it’s turning 21, 30, 40, or beyond, these milestones are big occasions that often prompt parties and events to celebrate with friends and loved ones.

When it comes to honouring loved ones on their milestone birthdays, finding a meaningful gift can make the occasion even more memorable. For gift inspiration, take a look through our guide to learn more about the significance of milestone birthdays and find ideas for the perfect present to help celebrate and make their day truly special.

What years are special birthdays?

All birthdays are special birthdays but when it comes to milestone birthdays, there are some that stand out more than others. For example, turning 16, 18 and 21 are significant occasions and often, big turning points in your life where you’re no longer considered a child. These are meaningful birthdays, usually for parents, who are saying goodbye to their children and celebrating the adults they are becoming. What better way to celebrate than with a unique and personalised gift for the wonderful young adult in your life.

Our guide on unique 21st birthday gift ideas provides tips and inspiration on presents they’re sure to love.

After reaching 21, milestone birthdays don’t occur again until you reach your 30’s as here, you say goodbye to your ‘youth’ and enter your middle adult years. You then celebrate a milestone birthday every decade after, including your 40th, 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays.

Your later years are a significant time in your life where you can reflect on your past and reminisce on your youth. These are often joyful years where your hard work has paid off and you can look forward to spending time with your older children, grandchildren and even retirement.

Your 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays are extremely significant and are often celebrated with big parties and events to mark the occasion. Whether your own big milestone birthday or that of a friend or loved-one, these birthdays are incredible opportunities to get together and go all out with celebrations.

How to celebrate a milestone birthday?

Whether it’s entering a new decade or reaching a life-changing age, birthday milestones are worth celebrating in a special way. From organising a party to a low-key dinner with friends and family, there are a variety of ways to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Here are some ideas to help with your big birthday planning:

  • Milestone birthday party: Gather all your friends and family in one place to celebrate in style. What better way to mark the occasion than with music, food, and dancing with everyone you love under one roof.
  • Intimate dinner: Whether with your partner or your immediate family, a small dinner at a favourite restaurant is the perfect way to enjoy your birthday without an extravagant party. Ideal for introverts and those wishing to spend quality time with the ones they love.
  • A long weekend away or staycation: We think a big birthday calls for a big celebration, so what better way to commemorate the occasion than with an extended party over the course of a few days or a week. Whether partying abroad or where you live, a trip away to celebrate is the perfect way to make memories of a special birthday.

However you choose to mark the occasion, as long as you are celebrating with the ones you love, we’re sure you’ll have a birthday to remember.

Gifts ideas for big birthdays

From personalised gifts to timeless keepsake, our list of ideas are sure to help you find the perfect present to show your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Personalised Gifts:

Personalised gifts add a touch of uniqueness and sentimental value to any occasion. Consider customised items that reflect the recipient’s personality, interests, or life journey to let them know how much you care.

Engraved or personalised jewellery, like our collection of coin jewellery, can make meaningful gifts, especially as they are bespoke to the recipient with coins that are issued in the year they are born. Similarly, monogrammed or customised necklaces and rings show thoughtfulness and demonstrates that you took the time to create something tailor-made for them.

Timeless Keepsakes:

Timeless keepsakes are gifts that transcend time and hold sentimental value. They can be heirloom-quality items that can be passed down through generations, reminding the recipient of their milestone birthday for years to come. What better way to celebrate a special birthday than with a gift that is equally as special and one that can be treasured for a lifetime. These gifts carry a sense of history and evoke a sense of nostalgia that makes them truly special.

Customised Accessories:

The best customised gifts are those that have been bought with the recipient in mind, considering their passions, hobbies and lifestyle. What better way to celebrate than with a present that is symbolic of your relationship and the bond between you.

From hip flasks and keyrings to money clips and cufflinks, our selection of coin jewellery accessories are ideal gifts if you’re looking for something a little bit different. Unique in design, our collection features handcrafted items that can be used every day.

Practical Presents:

For practical yet symbolic gifts, personalised or customised accessories make an excellent option. These gifts can be used every day and can also hold sentimental value, serving as a daily reminder of your thoughtful gift.

Similarly, perhaps you know your loved one well enough to know they would appreciate buying a gift themselves, in which case a practical gift voucher is the perfect option. Giving them the gift of choosing their own present shows that you value their style and personality.

Whether it’s a personalised keepsake, a timeless memento or a symbolic gesture, the aim is to create a gift that will leave a lasting impression and remind them of their special milestone for years to come. Celebrate their journey and show them how much they mean to you with a gift that reflects their uniqueness and the joy they bring to your life.