Traditionally, the third wedding anniversary gift should be something made of leather, signifying the foundations of love in marriage — which, like leather, gets better with time. This makes three-year anniversary gifts for him pretty easy to find. Think leather briefcase, leather gloves, a leather recliner or armchair, or leather dress shoes or work boots. These are gifts that don’t just look nice but will stand the test of time. For the list of modern third-year anniversary gifts for men, see this article.
The tradition of giving symbolic gifts on wedding anniversaries goes back to medieval Germany. Couples would be presented with a silver wreath on their 25th anniversary. Over time, more anniversaries began to be associated with symbolic gifts. The more contemporary list suggests the three-year anniversary gift should be made of glass or crystal. But, not many guys would appreciate glass or crystal. So, choose an amazing gift of leather for your man and may your marriage only get better with time.
Below are our recommendations for unique and thoughtful leather gifts for men. One will surely make him happy.
In case you’re playing catch up, we also have an article: 2nd Anniversary Gift for Husbands (All on Amazon)
1. Leather Watch Band
This is perfect if your husband has a watch that looks out of place anywhere but the gym. Giving him a leather watch band is a perfect way to boost his beloved watch’s look. For most watch styles, switching straps is easy. Filmmaker Casey Neistat made an awesome YouTube video showing how to replace the strap of an Apple Watch with a sophisticated, hand-crafted leather wristband. If your partner gets a new watch, the band can continue to be used.
2-5. Messenger Bag/Laptop Bag/Backpack/Briefcase
Does your man keep using your purse as his personal carry-all? Now is a great time to get him a leather bag. It’s surprising how often guys can use an everyday bag. He can carry water, facial tissues, hand lotion, snacks, Tylenol — basically everything he always expects you to carry. Talk about a win-win anniversary gift!
Messenger bags are trendy. Laptop bags are pretty necessary. And a backpack? Who doesn’t need a backpack — it can be used for camping or even as a manly diaper bag. If he uses a briefcase for work, get him a nice leather one. Who knows, a quality briefcase may just be the confidence boost he needs to ask for a raise.
6. Leather Toiletries (Dopp) Kit
A genuine leather grooming kit is a great gift for a frequent traveler. You can choose from a wide range of kits that are durable, stylish, and have the right balance of ruggedness and suave style. You can also personalize these kits by adding a short message of love, so no matter where he is, this kit will always remind him of you.
7. Leather Gloves
Leather gloves add style, sophistication, and purpose. Does your man enjoy golf? Consider getting him leather golf gloves. Do his dress clothes need a visual upgrade? Gloves can really tie an outfit together. Many leather gloves, like those shown below, can even be worn while using a touchscreen.
8. Leather Luggage
Getting him an elegant leather suitcase is nice because it will remind him of you — even when he’s away on business.
9. Belt
You could get him a utility work belt, a casual belt, or a dress belt. Since this is for an anniversary gift, you could even etch a note on the inside of the belt. You can do this by using a Dremel or a pyrography pen. Write a note that reads something like this:
“We can’t always have our arms around each other but hopefully this belt will remind you of what it’s like.”
10. Leather Photo Album
While most photos are now stored digitally, there’s something poetic about having a leather-bound photo album. And you can even fill the album for him. Include old pictures or new pictures and space for memories to come. A leather photo album can be the perfect third-year anniversary gift since most photos we take nowadays go right to the cloud and never get looked at again.
11. Leather Cooler
Try getting a leather cooler for your man. This can be a great style statement for him when he is hanging out with his friends, camping in the wilderness, or chilling with his colleagues. And, for a fun surprise, you can pack his favorite drinks and snacks in the cooler before you give it to him. Maybe he’ll get the hint and take you on a picnic.
12. Leather Recliner/Armchair
Give him the gift of relaxation. A leather recliner is perfect for watching sports, reading books, watching TV, taking naps, or even spending the night on if his gift to you isn’t as good as this one.
13. Leather Car Interior
Does your man like cars? Has he been yearning for a car with a nicer interior? Instead of spending thousands on a new car, consider upgrading the interior to leather. To do this, research to see if his car was offered with a leather interior from the factory. If so, you can buy leather seats online and either install them yourself or have a garage do it. Swapping a cloth interior for leather is a simple job and it completely transforms the look of the car. For a cheaper alternative, you can get leather car seat covers.
14. Shaving Strop
A shaving strop is basically a leather belt on which you sharpen your straight blade razor for shaving. Think Sweeney Todd but with (hopefully) less blood.
15-16. Leather Dress Shoes or Work Boots
One amazing thing about leather is it’s extremely versatile. It looks good at a fancy dinner or on a construction site. Which type of shoe do you think your partner would prefer: fancy dress shoes or tough work boots?
17. Leather Desk Tray
Here’s a sneaky way to keep your man better organized while also giving him a handsome gift. A leather desk tray can be used for storing things like car keys. The one below includes the quote “Love is the beauty of the soul.”
18. Baseball Glove
If your man loves baseball, consider getting him a new glove — that is, if he isn’t already in love with his old glove. Keep in mind that leather does get better with age and it takes many hours for a glove to “feel right.” So, although your husband may appreciate a new glove for an anniversary gift, he may wait to use it until his old one gives out.
19-21. Wallet or Phone/Tablet Case, Cover
An iPhone or iPad may not be timeless, but it will forever need protection, like a stylish leather case. And while a wallet may seem like a boring gift, it’s a fantastic reason to upgrade him from something Velcro to something leather. One thing to note: Carrying a wallet in your back pocket is bad for your back, so try a slim front wallet instead.
![iPhone 6S Case, Verus [Layered Dandy][Brown] - [Card Slot][Flip][Slim Fit][Wallet] - For Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S 4.7" Devices](https://p4t6u7k5.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3432.png)
22. Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is admired by almost every man. This is a gift he can wear for decades so you’ll want to pick his favorite timeless style:
- Motocross
- Fatigue
- Bomber
- Dress
23. A Leather Bound Book
Not all men are into football and beer. Is your lover an avid reader? Then he might appreciate a leather-bound book. Perhaps you could track down a first edition of his favorite novel. Or maybe his favorite book came out with a leather cover for a few select years. He’ll appreciate owning a rare leather copy.
Ready to get a jump on next year? See our article, Fourth-Year Anniversary Gifts for Him (Fruit, Floral, and Appliances). Now may be a good time to start planning since appliances is one of the gift categories for a modern fourth-year gift.
