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With so many choices, how do you choose the metal for your wedding rings? Here are some fun facts about each metal:

Gold: Gold is a rare element, and has been used throughout history as currency, jewelry, decorative objects, and more. It has spawned wars and launched voyages. It is extremely durable and malleable. One ounce of gold can be pounded into a 187 square foot sheet or stretched into a wire 40 miles long. Pure gold is 24 karat, although you will more often see it alloyed with other metals to bring it to 18 karat or 14 karat. Its bright yellow color is loved for being rich and beautiful.

Alex Sepkus Diamond and 18K Yellow Gold Ring

Rose Gold: Rose gold is simply gold that has been alloyed with copper to give it a pink or red hue. Almost every designer who uses rose gold has a slightly different shade. Rose gold is available in 14 or 18 karat, and has a lovely romantic look.

John Apel Diamond and 18K Rose Gold Engagement Ring

White Gold: White gold is gold that has been alloyed with nickel or palladium, then plated with rhodium to give it a cool, white tone. Rhodium is extremely hard and bright, and is actually one of the most expensive precious metals. Over time, rhodium may need to be reapplied to maintain its white finish.

Harry Kotlar Diamond and 18K White Gold Wide Ring

Platinum: Platinum is the strongest and rarest of the precious metals. It is naturally white, and platinum jewelry is typically 95% pure, making it a good choice for those who have sensitive skin or an allergy to nickel. Platinum is a dense metal, and jewelry made from it will be more expensive than gold. Platinum is also used in the medical field for pacemakers, and in the automotive industry for catalytic converters.

Mark Patterson Diamond and Platinum Engagement Ring

Palladium: Palladium a naturally white metal from the platinum group of metals. It is lighter weight and therefore less expensive than platinum. Palladium was first used in jewelry when all platinum was declared for military use only during World War 2, and grew in popularity in 2008 when platinum soared to $3000 per ounce.

Todd Reed Raw Diamond Diamond and Palladium Ring

Titanium: Titanium is a non-precious metal that is popular in men's wedding bands. It is a grayish white color, and is extremely lightweight. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. It is commonly used in aircraft and missiles due to its strength and ability to withstand high temperatures. Titanium rings are far less expensive than the precious metals above, but they cannot be sized or cut off in an emergency.

Titanium Beveled Band

Garnet, January’s birthstone, is one of the most diverse gemstones. It comes in an array of colors, although it’s most commonly known for its classic shade of red. Garnet varieties and species actually come in a rainbow of colors, including orange, yellow, and green. While rare, these gemstones can also come in blue and violet, and even color change! Here at Fox's we have hand picked some of the most rare and vivid species of garnet. Below are some amazing one of kind pieces featuring these special gemstones.

Alex Sepkus 18ky and mint green garnet ring, $7,500

Alex Sepkus 18ky and spessartite garnet ring, $11,600

Alex Sepkus 18ky and hessonite garnet ring, $10,380

Alex Sepkus 18k rose gold and tsavorite garnet necklace, $5,725

Arman Sarkisyan 22k gold and tsavorite garnet locket, $3,780

As our second year in our new location at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel draws to a close, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has come in to see us this holiday season. We love hearing the stories about how a stop at Fox's is an annual tradition. We take pride in carrying unique pieces from designers you won't find anywhere else, and it gives us great joy to be a part of the special moments in your lives.

Not all of you are old enough to remember Sid Thal, the grandfather of our owner Zoey, and the first generation of our third generation family-owned store. He bought Fox's in 1948 with $15,000 in loans, and not enough money to paint a new sign on the door. In 1998, Sid wrote a wonderful book, "Loose Gems," about his experiences in life and in the jewelry industry.

This little gem is one of our favorites:

"It's not your money until you spend it," my friend Charlie said.

"Great line," I told him. "Is it original or did you hear it?"

"It's not original and I don't remember." In his late eighties, like I am, he suffers from a little short-term memory loss. Who doesn't, I wonder.

I called my friend Kelly who has a doctorate in economics. He knows all about money and how to spend it, and does. I asked if he had ever heard the expression.

"That's a good one," he answered. "Very profound. Sure you didn't make that up to sell jewels to your customers at Fox's?"

That would be stooping too low, wouldn't it?

It was Ben Franklin who said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Of course, he spent money like a drunken sailor when he was our ambassador to France. "Frugal Ben" and his purse were big hits with the ladies in Paris.

Speaking of frugal, we once had a customer whose wife for years brought back every Christmas present he gave her. "He works too hard for his money. He's a dentist and stands on his feet all day," she said as she returned each beautifully wrapped package unopened.

"Better to have sore feet than a broken heart," I said to her one January, tired of hearing the same excuse year after year.

Too bad she couldn't see the love with which her husband selected every gift, the time he spent on his afternoon off just to find the right piece of jewelry for her.

At Fox's, we know about gifts. It doesn't have to take big money to make it a big moment between you and that special person.

And frankly, money can be such a pain. It needs attention, like a child. You worry about interest rates, inflation, the economy, and where and if to move it. Life is for living, so why not spread a little joy along the way.

Remember, "It's not your money until you spend it!"

P.S. This message is NOT sponsored by your local Savings & Loan.

P.P.S. The dentist still came in for many years for gifts. I often wondered for whom they were purchased, because they were never again returned.

Santa stopped by Fox's yesterday, and he says you're on the naughty list! Shop our gift guide to get yourself back on the nice list with your sweetie. Hours this week are 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturday, December 24th.

Under $500:

Gurhan sterling silver and 24k gold "Willow" bracelet, $330

Gurhan sterling silver and 24k gold square stud earrings, $475

$500 to $2,500:

Suwa diamond octahedron and 18k yellow gold pendant, $700

Sethi Couture baguette diamond and 18k rose gold stud earrings, $1,320

$2,500 to $5,000:

Arman Sarkisyan diamond, sterling silver, and 22k gold station necklace, $4,510

Kwiat 18k white gold and diamond line bracelet, $5,000

$5,000 to $15,000:

Todd Reed 4-stone multicolored sapphire and 18k rose gold ring, $7,710

Dream gifts over $15,000:

Alex Sepkus platinum and diamond link bracelet, $17,735

Todd Reed custom green tourmaline, onyx, and 18k gold tassel pendant, $35,950

Gifts for men:

Todd Reed black diamond band, $1,650

Nomos 1st Edition Neomatik Orion Wristwatch, $3,700

Welcome to our first annual Fox's Holiday Gift Guide! We've compiled our most wonderful items in every price range. Don't forget, this weekend is the last full weekend of shopping before Christmas! In addition to our usual hours, Monday - Saturday from 10-6pm, we'll be open Sunday December 18th from 12-5pm. On Saturday December 24th, we will be closing early at 3pm. We wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Under $500:

Gurhan sterling silver bangle bracelet, $395

$500 to $2500:

Nomos Glashutte Ludwig 33mm stainless steel wristwatch, $1,700

Kwiat diamond and 18k white gold "Sunburst" earrings, $2,050

$2500 to $5000:

Arman Sarkisyan opal, sterling silver, and 22k yellow gold locket, $2,950

Ray Griffiths labradorite and 18k yellow gold drop earrings, $4,895

Todd Reed diamond, 18k yellow gold, and oxidized sterling silver cuff bracelet, $7,920

Alex Sepkus hessonite garnet "Little Windows" ring, $10,380

Dream gifts over $15,000:

Alex Sepkus 18k yellow gold and diamond bracelet, $21,865

Gifts for Men:

Todd Reed sterling silver, palladium, and black diamond band, $3,410

Nomos Glashutte Metro Neomatik Nachtblau 35mm stainless steel wristwatch, $3,960

The Fox's teddy bear windows have been a beloved Seattle holiday tradition for over 35 years. If you've ever wanted to know everything there is to know about them, read on!

The tradition of teddy bears in the Fox's windows predates what most of us know as the old Fox's Gem Shop location on 5th and Union. Prior to 1980, Fox's was in its original location (since 1912) across the street in the Skinner Building.

Initially, Fox's rented the bears and had them installed in the windows. Once the popularity of the bears took off, Joy and Chai started their own bear collection and Joy took over the job of lovingly creating the windows every December.

The collection now includes nearly 100 bears, as well as many pieces of Americana and pieces of local nostalgia, including 1962 World's Fair items. The bears have been collected from all over the globe. Zoey recalls a trip to London with her family when she was a teenager, and they stumbled across a teddy bear store in an arcade. The bears were so big they had to purchase an extra suitcase to take their new bears home in!

Other bears have been donated by locals who wanted their beloved but unused bears to have a good home. One particularly special bear, Teddy Baer, was donated by a local woman who was going into a rest home. The bear had been her one and only treasured Christmas gift in 1903. He still wears the outfit she made for him as a girl!

Our Rainier Square store had 10 windows. Several of them were classics that never changed from the beginning: cooking window, nurse window, sled window, beach window, fireplace/Santa window, sewing window, typewriter window. The newer windows that were developed later on were the wedding window, sushi window, and bathtub window. Which window was your favorite?

Our beautiful new store has just 2 windows, but you will see some of our most favorite bears making an appearance this year! If you want to see even more bears, you can head upstairs to the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

Dear Alex,

We can hardly believe it's been 26 years since we first laid eyes on you. It was love at first sight! We received a catalog of all the jewelry that would be at the first JCK jewelry trade show to be held in Las Vegas, and as soon as we saw your picture we knew we had to meet you.

We woke up early, full of excitement, and were the first in line to get to see you in person. And you were even more wonderful in person! Your gleaming 18k gold, lovingly hand finished under a microscope! Your whimsical hidden motifs! Your incredible one of a kind gemstones!

We took you home with us and have never looked back. With every passing year, you become more timeless, more unique, and more special. We love to be with you doing fun casual things just as much as we love our fancy nights out.

Just when I think I know everything there is to know about you, you surprise me with something new. On December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, from 10am to 6pm, we are so excited to have our annual trunk show with you, where you can show off all your newest finery to all our clients.

Here's to another 26 years!

Love,

Fox's Seattle

If you've shopped at Fox's anytime over the last 27 years, then you've no doubt met or had the pleasure of working with our beloved Mariko Winters. Her smiling face and calm disposition have been a constant at Fox's since 1989. Mariko is planning to retire on her birthday next August, which will make this Mariko's last holiday season with us. We asked Mariko a few questions that we thought you'd enjoy about her time here - let's take a little trip down memory lane!

When did you start working here and why jewelry?- May 1^st 1989. My friend at church was Zach Mann’s kindergarten teacher and knew that Chai was looking for someone who spoke Japanese.

What do you remember about your interview?- Chai asked if I could write really small. Because back then we hand wrote all the tags for each piece of jewelry.

What was the first piece you ever sold?- A Tiffany & Co. Pin for $3,000.00

What is one thing you loved about that time?- I loved selling Tiffany silver. Buses of tourist would come in and we would line up all the receipts on the case and go down the line.

What is your favorite thing about your career?- Custom. I love building a piece from scratch. One of my favorite pieces I ever made for a client was a jade men’s ring with the most beautiful piece of orange jade.

What is one of the craziest things that happened at work?- The earthquake in 2001. I was on the phone with a client and all of a sudden the huge Chihuly sculpture we had hanging from the ceiling started to sway and I said “I have to go I think we are having an earthquake”.

What is the strangest request you ever received?- Diamonds set into someone’s teeth!

Who is the most famous person you ever helped?- Michael Douglas and Grand Master Flash.

What is one of your favorite memories?- Going to Japan with Chai and Joy to meet a client. After that I took them on a tour of my hometown Nagoya. It was amazing!

What will you miss most about Fox’s?- My colleagues and Sushi Day!!

What will you do in your retirement?- I am going to see the total eclipse in August in Wyoming. I will travel the country with my husband Dan and our doggies in our RV. My favorite places are the Mayan Ruins and Utah I plan to go back. We love to mushroom hunt and dig for razor clams. And spend time with my grandchildren.

For almost 100 years, a downtown wedding at the landmark Fairmont Olympic Hotel has been the gold standard of elegance in Seattle. From the grand Spanish Ballroom to the light-filled Garden Terrace, the Fairmont offers several lovely wedding venue options.

Not only is the Fairmont known for its beautiful furnishings, impeccable service (it has the highest waiter to guest ratio of any wedding venue in the city), and delicious food, but when you book your wedding at the Fairmont, you receive a 5-night honeymoon at any Fairmont Hotel or Resort in the world!

Here at Fox's, we love having a bird's eye view of all the beautiful brides being photographed in front of the hotel. The photos of this lovely Fairmont Olympic Hotel wedding were taken by Kim and Adam of La Vie Photography. Take a look at our previous blog post to read about how you can receive a complimentary engagement portrait session with Kim and Adam with your engagement ring purchase at Fox's Seattle!

Did you know that you can design your own engagement ring at The Design Studio at Fox's Seattle?

First, get inspired by any of our beautiful in person designs, or search the full digital library of designs to narrow down your starting point options.

Fox's Design Studio allows you to create the perfect piece by changing center stones, accent stones, metal qualities, shanks, prongs, and much more right on-screen in full 3D.

When you want to add details or build completely new designs, Freehand, available inside Fox's Design Studio, gives you the tools to get creative using a library of over 1,000 adjustable design elements.

Within the software, we can price diamonds and settings, and even order a 3D prototype for you to try on. Designing a one-of-a-kind engagement ring has never been so seamless!