Ever since Queen Victoria celebrated her 60th anniversary on the throne of Great Britain in June of 1897 and it was declared to be her “Diamond Jubilee”, it has become a tradition to celebrate a 60th anniversary with a gift of diamonds. As Queen Victoria had already celebrated her Golden Jubilee ten years earlier with gifts of gold given and received, something both rarer and more valuable had to be chosen for a 60th anniversary gift and celebration. So sixty years became associated with diamonds.

In modern times, celebrating a sixtieth anniversary, whether it be as the reigning queen of England, sixty years of employment for the same company, or as a couple having spent 60 years of marriage together, is a rare and unusual occasion which certainly warrants a very special gift. Deciding on the perfect gift for someone celebrating sixty years is always difficult, while diamonds, although no longer rare, are always expensive.

But a sixtieth anniversary gift doesn’t have to be as costly as diamonds to be rare, original, and unique. One gift idea that is as genuine as diamonds - and will have more emotional impact that any diamond - is the gift of a genuine, handmade, original work of art. The perfect source for the best handmade paintings, created by skilled and experienced artists, is an Internet gallery called Paint Your Life (www.PaintYourLife.com).

What makes these particular works of art unique is that they are made from photographs (scanned or digitally uploaded) of whatever subject you know would mean the most to the person or couple celebrating their 60th anniversary.

Here are a few gift ideas for original paintings:

• A framed oil painting of the formal wedding photograph taken sixty years ago of a couple now celebrating their Diamond Jubilee 60th wedding anniversary. Even an old sepia or partially damaged photo can be scanned and used to create a beautiful original oil painting.
• A pastel or watercolor painting of the celebrating couple from a current photo taken in front of their home or in their garden or other favorite place.
• A group painting of the children or grandchildren from a photo (or a few photos) smiling their love and congratulations.
• A painting of a beloved pet, or a landscape of the home they’ve lived in and enjoyed for so many years.

There are several media to choose from at Paint Your Life, including having a charcoal sketch, pencil drawing, pastel, watercolor, or oil painting made from your chosen photograph. There’s even an option to have it created as a unique mosaic tile.

The cost of having a painting commissioned is far less than you might expect and it doesn’t take long either to order and receive a painting ready to hang.

As a 60th anniversary gift, an original painting will show your regard for tradition and personal thoughtfulness…and may in fact turn out to be worth far more than any diamonds.