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August is one of only three months of the year that has three birthstones! They are peridot, spinel, and sardonyx.

Peridot is the most common birthstone associated with August, and has a very interesting history. It is one of the oldest known gemstones, with ancient records documenting the mining of peridot as early as 1500 B.C. The main source of peridot in the ancient world was an island in the Egyptian Red Sea, and some historians believe that Cleopatra's famous emeralds were actually peridots.

Peridot's formation is also different from that of almost all other gems. Most gems are formed in the Earth's crust. The two exceptions are peridot and diamond, which are formed much deeper in the Earth; in the mantle. Peridot forms in magma in the upper mantle, about 20 to 55 miles deep. It is brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity. Diamond, by contrast, is formed much deeper in the mantle, around 100 to 150 miles below the surface, under extreme pressure and high temperatures.

Peridot was used anciently as a talisman and has a mystical reputation. It was believed to dissolve enchantments, ward off anxiety, and cure asthma. It was considered most powerful when set in gold.

Spinel is an incredibly beautiful gemstone which has spent most of its history being confused for ruby or sapphire. Some of the most famous rubies in the world, including the Timur Ruby and the Black Prince's Ruby in the crown jewels of England, have actually turned out to be spinels. Spinel is now a gemstone that is treasured for its own beauty, its wonderful brilliance, hardness, and wonderful range of spectacular colors. One member of the spinel group, magnetite, even has magnetic properties. As early as the 11^th century, mariners used this form of spinel to magnetize their compasses. We have two stunning spinel pieces in our store right now, perfect for an August baby likes a gemstone that's off the beaten path.

Alex Sepkus raspberry spinel and 18k gold "Flora" necklace

Alex Sepkus 18k gold and purple spinel ring

Sardonyx is the last and most obscure of the August birthstones, although it was the original birthstone for August before the other two came along. Sardonyx combines alternating layers of sard and onyx—two types of the layered mineral chalcedony—to create a reddish zebra-striped stone with white bands.

Used as a stone of strength and protection since ancient times, sardonyx is associated with courage, happiness, and clear communication. Some believe that placing sardonyx at each corner of a house will grant protection against evil.

Shop Peridot Jewelry

Shop Spinel Jewelry

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Yesterday, our old garage, the Rainier Square Garage, closed its doors for good in advance of the upcoming demolition of Rainier Square. We want to take a moment to recognize Abreham and Mulugeta, our beloved valet attendants. If you've ever taken advantage of our validated parking over the years, no doubt you've met these two. For 20 and 17 years, respectively, they have parked both our cars and our clients' cars with friendliness and professionalism. Always asking, "How is your family?" and remembering exactly when we'd need our cars and having them ready for us. When we went down to say goodbye to them on Saturday, the play at the 5th Avenue Theatre was just getting out, and they were inundated with hugs and goodbyes from 5th Avenue regulars, many of whom we recognized as Fox's regulars as well!

Abreham fondly recalled parking Sid Thal's famous black cab, and remembered asking Sid the secret to his longevity. His answer? "Drink good whiskey!"

We will continue to validate parking at the Olympic Parking Garage on 5th and Seneca, but we will miss our friends Abreham and Mulugeta, and wish them well.

July's birthstone is one of the most highly prized of gems throughout history. Symbolic of passion, protection and prosperity, the ruby has been revered since ancient times. Records suggest that rubies were traded along China’s North Silk Road as early as 200 B.C.

Rubies were once considered to have magical powers, and were worn as a talisman against evil. They were thought to grow darker when peril was imminent, and to return to their original color once danger was past—provided they were in the hands of the rightful owner!

The word ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber," meaning red. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is the same material as sapphire. Corundum is the second hardest material after diamond, making ruby an excellent choice for an alternative engagment ring gemstone. Rubies are symbolic of eternal love, and if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that rubies bring good fortune to the wearer, making it a very romantic choice!

Here are some lovely gift choices for July babies:

Alex Sepkus 18k gold, ruby, and diamond "Candy" ring, $3,060

Alex Sepkus 18k gold and ruby "Sticks and Stones" earrings, $4,810

Suwa 18k gold, ruby, and diamond anniversary band, $6,450

Suwa 18k gold, ruby, and diamond anniversary band, $6,450

Are you just starting to look for a diamond engagement ring? One of the most important steps is to choose what diamond shape to buy! There are so many wonderful choices, all with a different look.

Round brilliant: The round brilliant diamond was devised by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919 as his doctoral thesis at the University of London. He created a mathematical formula based on 58 facets to get the most sparkle and brilliance from a round diamond. Diamonds cut according to this formula are called ideal cut. A round brilliant diamond not cut to ideal specifications will be less expensive than an ideal cut diamond, but will not sparkle nearly as much.

Emerald: The emerald cut has been around since the 1500's, but gained popularity in the 1920's, when their sleek and elegant lines were the perfect look to go with the Art Deco movement. The emerald cut is a step cut diamond, meaning that the facets of the diamond look like stairs. The emerald cut diamond typically has 57 facets. Because the emerald cut diamond has such a large table, it isn't good at hiding inclusions. Be sure to choose a clarity grade of VS2 or better.

Oval: Diamonds have been cut into oval shapes for hundreds of years, but the modern day oval cut diamond was devised by Lazare Kaplan in 1957. Oval diamonds have 58 facets and will typically look larger than a round diamond of the same carat weight. When shopping for an oval, be aware of proportion (the ideal length to width ratio is 1.35 to 1.50), and beware the bow-tie. Oval diamonds almost always have a bow-tie effect in the center of the diamond, but results will vary - so this is an important cut to shop for in person.

Asscher: The Asscher cut diamond was designed by Joseph Asscher in 1902, and was one of the first patented diamond cuts in the world. The Asscher is step cut like an emerald cut, but the shape is square with cut corners. Like the emerald cut, the Asscher was popular in the 1920's, making it feel both vintage and elegant. The original Asscher cut diamond had 58 facets. In 1999, the Asscher cut was reinvented as the Royal Asscher by Edward and Joop Asscher. This cut has 74 facets and can only be purchased by an authorized jewelry store from the Royal Asscher Company.

Cushion: Cushion cut diamonds have soft, rounded corners, giving them a wonderful pillowy shape. Other than that, nearly every cushion cut diamond you see will be different. Some will be more square, and others more elongated. The faceting structure will be different as well. Some cushion cut diamonds have lots of small facets, giving it a shimmery crushed glass look. Others will have larger facets, giving the diamond larger flashes of light. Whichever look you prefer, you'll want to choose one of these unique diamonds in person.

Radiant: Radiant cut diamonds are available both square and rectangular, but unlike the emerald and Asscher cuts, radiant cut diamonds have the faceting pattern of a round brilliant. The radiant is a popular choice for fancy colored diamonds such as yellow, because the cut brings out the color of the diamonds. When buying an elongated radiant cut, watch out for the bow-tie effect. The ratio can have quite an effect on the look of a radiant, so this is another diamond you'll want to shop for in person.

Marquise: The marquise cut diamond dates back to the 1700's, when King Louis XV of France commissioned a jeweler to design a diamond that resembled the lips of his mistress, Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. Current day marquise diamonds have 56 facets and an elliptical shape with pointed ends. Marquise diamonds are traditionally set facing north-south, but famous marquise diamond wearer Catherine Zeta-Jones has her diamond set east-west.

Princess: This cut was developed in 1961, and quickly became one of the most popular diamond cuts. It is a square diamond with pointed corners and a brilliant faceting structure. Princess cut diamonds have 58 facets, but use up to 80% of the rough diamond they are cut from. In contrast, round brilliant diamonds only use about 40-50% of the rough diamond. For this reason, princess cut diamonds are less expensive than round diamonds. But watch out for those pointed corners! They are fragile and can be easily broken.

Pear: The pear-shaped diamond can be traced back to 1458, when it was created by Flemish polisher Lodewyk van Berquem. This diamond is shaped like a teardrop, with one rounded side and one pointed side, and has a brilliant faceting structure. The most famous pear-shaped diamond in the world is the 69.42ct Taylor-Burton diamond, purchased by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor for a whopping $1.1 million in 1969.

Heart: The origin of the heart-shaped diamond is unknown, but the earliest mention of one is letters from 1463. Mary, Queen of Scots sent a heart-shaped diamond ring to Queen Elizabeth in 1562, as this diamond shape used to be a symbol of royalty. The heart shape is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top of the rounded side, creating two shoulders. This is one of the most expensive diamond cuts, as it is labor intensive to cut, and difficult to create a perfectly symmetrical shape.

Whatever diamond cut you're looking for, come in or give us a call at 206-623-2528 and we will find exactly what you're looking for! If you know what shape of diamond you'd like to buy, but are unsure of the setting, let us set it into a beautiful diamond solitaire ring for you. The diamond can then be reset later into a setting of your choice.

Please welcome Heron's Nest Gallery to Fox's Seattle! We've brought our own little slice of Joy and Chai's beloved Vashon Island to the heart of Seattle just for the summer.

Heron’s Nest is owned and operated by Vashon Center for the Arts, a non-profit organization that supports Vashon Island artists and arts programs. The Nest showcases fine art and handcrafted items by island artists of all ages who reside full or part-time on Vashon Island or have a personal connection to the community. All money earned by Heron’s Nest is either paid directly to local artists or is used to fund Vashon Center for the Arts programs, productions and scholarships.

Come in and take a look at the eclectic array of paintings and prints, pottery, photography, basketry, glass, metal, wood, stone, and jewelry completely unique to our corner of Puget Sound. You may even see a piece or two from our beloved Joy!

Lucky June babies have not one birthstone, but three! The two alternate birthstones for June are moonstone and alexandrite, although moonstone is the preferred June birthstone in parts of the world like Germany and Scandinavia.

Pliny, the Roman natural historian, coined the name of moonstone when he wrote that its shimmery appearance shifted with the phases of the moon—a belief that held until well after the sixteenth century. Moonstone can vary in color from clear to blue-white or peach, and was considered by ancient civilizations to be a sacred stone. Some believed that the moonstone could even make a person invisible!

Florida adopted moonstone as its official state gem in 1970 to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing and other spaceflights that launched from Florida – even though moonstone is not naturally found in Florida or on the moon.

The second alternate birthstone for June is the Alexandrite. A brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic of changing color to a red hue depending on the light. Because of this quality, it has been characterized by poets as "an emerald by day, a ruby by night." Alexandrite was first found in Russia's Ural Mountains, where its Finnish discoverer mistook it for emerald until he realized that it changed color under different light sources.

According to legend, this gemstone was named for Alexander II because it was discovered on the future czar’s birthday in 1834. Because alexandrite’s red and green hues matched Russia’s military colors, it became the official gemstone of Imperial Russia’s Tsardom. It is a rare and expensive gemstone, symbolic of joy and good fortune.

We are so excited here at Fox's Seattle to offer a very special gift with purchase - a free engagement photo shoot with our favorite photographers, Kim and Adam Bamberg of La Vie Photography!

Kim and Adam are a husband and wife team who have been photographing together for 14 years. They celebrate life through their lenses and see the authentic beauty in everyone they meet.

Kim and Adam's infectious positivity and joie de vivre puts their clients immediately at ease, allowing them to capture beautiful images that let the personalities of their subjects truly shine through.

An hour-long engagement session with La Vie Photography is our gift to you with your purchase of a ring from Fox's Seattle with a value of $8,000 or higher. Location will be specially chosen for you by Kim and Adam. We know you will love them as much as we do!

The luscious, vibrant green of May's birthstone has been captivating people since antiquity. Its name comes from the ancient Greek word for green, smaragdus. Emeralds and green are so synonymous that our lovely Seattle (which is especially green right now after a record-breaking streak of rain) is called the Emerald City.

Emeralds were mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC. The Egyptians used emeralds for jewelry as well as protection, and buried their kings and queens with emeralds. Cleopatra, probably the world's most famous emerald lovers, claimed ownership of every emerald mine in Egypt during her reign. Another famous Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor, also famously loved emeralds. Her Bulgari emerald and diamond necklace was given to her by Richard Burton while filming Cleopatra in Rome. In 2011 it sold at a Christie's auction for $6.1 million!

On the other side of the world, the Muzo Indians of Colombia had well-hidden and prized emerald mines. These mines were so hidden, it took the Spanish conquistadors nearly twenty years to find them. The emeralds they did find were traded throughout Europe and Asia. The most famous emerald from this time period, the Hooker Emerald, was purchased by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He wore it on his belt buckle. It was later set into a platinum and diamond brooch by Tiffany, and currently resides at the Smithsonian, a gift from Janet Annenberg Hooker.

Emeralds are believed to have many powers. Its soothing green color is thought to ward off panic and keep the wearer calm. Anciently it was believed that emeralds could cure stomach problems, control epilepsy, and stop bleeding. Today emeralds are a symbol of loyalty, new beginnings, peace, and security. Its vibrant green color is perfectly symbolic of the month of May, and it is also the traditional gemstone of the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Come in and take a look at our two gorgeous emerald and diamond anniversary bands from Suwa:

Suwa emerald and diamond band, $3,960

Suwa emerald and diamond 3-row band, $11,500

We're having a party! Come in and see our newest obsession - stacking bands by Sethi Couture. Sisters Pratima and Prerna Sethi are dedicated to making simple, delicate jewelry that can be worn every single day. Bring in your rings and bands and we will mix and match them with Sethi Couture bands to create a unique and fun stack. We'll also clean your rings so you leave feeling sparkly and amazing. There's also a special gift with purchase. Come join the fun this Friday and Saturday, May 5th and 6th from 10am to 6pm. Parking is validated at the Rainier Square parking garage and the Olympic parking garage. If you prefer to Uber or Lyft, with purchase we'll give you a $10 credit towards your next ride. We hope to see you there!

Have you tried Gem Water yet? If you haven't experienced it yet, come in to the store this Tuesday, April 25th from 2pm-6pm for a special tasting! We'll be tasting water that has been treated with Gem Water as well as water that hasn't. We'll also be tasting red wine directly from the bottle compared to red wine that has been decanted into a Gem Water decanter.

From the Gem Water website:

Amethysts enjoy a long association with Dionysus, the God of Wine. The ancient Greek already created drinking vessels from amethysts. The word “amethyst” means “not intoxicated” (from Greek a- “not” + methystos “intoxicated”).

A little while ago, selected wineries and professional sommeliers rediscovered the tradition to enhance wine with amethysts and achieved amazing results. But nowadays, amethysts are no longer placed directly into the wine.

With this blend we bring this tradition to the next level. Vino features a twisted surface and as the amethysts are enclosed in the wand, it makes infusing wine so much more hygienic. The effect on wine is truly stunning. The tannins are usually percepted to be smoother and more pleasurable. Vino gives even great wines a very special tune.

In order to celebrate a great wine properly, we created a uniquely shaped wine decanter. Handcrafted in Europe, it is an exquisite masterpiece. Fill it with a bottle of wine, place the Gem Water Vino inside, wait for 7 minutes and pour yourself and your friends a glass. You‘ll be amazed!