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 our related article. The contemporary list suggests the three-year anniversary gift should be made of glass or crystal; however, if your husband won’t appreciate glass or crystal, choose a unique and thoughtful leather gift from our suggestions below.
In case you’re playing catch up, we also have an article: 2nd Anniversary Gift for Husbands (All on Amazon)
Leather Watchband
This is a perfect gift if your husband has a watch that looks out of place anywhere but the gym. Giving him a leather watchband 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, he can continue to use the band.
View leather watchbands on Amazon
(paid partner link)
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 — 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.
View leather messenger bags on Amazon (paid partner link)
View leather laptop cases on Amazon (paid partner link)
View leather backpacks on Amazon (paid partner link)
View leather briefcases on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather toiletry bags on Amazon (paid partner link)
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 can even be worn while using a touchscreen.
View leather gloves on Amazon (paid partner link)
Leather Luggage
Getting him an elegant leather suitcase is nice because it will remind him of you — even when he’s away on business.
View leather luggage on Amazon (paid partner link)
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 (Amazon paid partner link) or a pyrography pen (Amazon paid partner link). 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.”
View men’s leather belts on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather photo albums on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather coolers on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather recliners on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather seat covers on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View shaving strops on Amazon (paid partner link)
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?
View men’s leather boots on Amazon (paid partner link)
Leather Desk Tray
Here’s a sneaky way to help your man get organized while also giving him a handsome gift. A leather desk tray can be used for storing things like car keys.
View leather desk trays on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View baseball gloves on Amazon (paid partner link)
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.
View leather wallets on Amazon (paid partner link)
View leather phone cases on Amazon (paid partner link)
View leather tablet cases on Amazon (paid partner link)
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
View men’s leather jackets on Amazon (paid partner link)
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 copy 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.
View leather-bound books on Amazon (paid partner link)
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 are one of the gift categories for a modern fourth-year gift.
