Simone Biles’ GOAT necklace stole the spotlight at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but, if you are eyeing a replica soon, the jeweler behind the iconic piece has made it clear: there won’t be any replicas.
Janet Heller, CEO and founder of Janet Heller Fine Jewelry, told PEOPLE that she will “never” recreate the headline-making necklace. “It is an exclusive, one-of-a-kind creation made for Simone, who is truly extraordinary,” she said. “Simone is one-of-a-kind, and therefore, I feel the goat [necklace] should be too.”
However, Heller added that she “would love to create different iterations for other customers.”
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“Every person has a unique story, and storytelling through jewelry is my passion,” she continued. “I love to convey my clients’ stories through their own vision.”
Based in Calabasas, Calif., Heller launched her jewelry business in 2006, gaining fame for popular pieces like the Tricky Devil Tennis Bracelet and Diamond Stretchy Bracelets. Speaking to ABC7, she described the intense interest surrounding Biles’ necklace as “overwhelming.”
“I mean, thousands of people reaching out to ask us if we would make them the goat,” she said. She also told the outlet that over the years, she’s made “many gorgeous pieces for many beautiful people,” but her creation for Biles is “probably the pinnacle of my career so far.”
The jeweler told PEOPLE that she’s seen a “significant” increase in website sales thanks to Biles, who she said is a “gem of a human being.”
“Not only is she a gymnastics powerhouse, but she is also the sweetest and most humble person,” she said.
Heller revealed that the creation of the GOAT necklace took nearly two months from start to finish, with the production phase alone lasting about five weeks.
“We hand drill and hand set each diamond and there are 546 of them, so it was a very labor-intensive and time-consuming task,” the jeweler explained. “I have the most incredible bench jewelers and master craftsmen and they executed it perfectly.”
Biles, 27, showcased the 3D goat necklace after winning the all-around final. The necklace symbolizes her status as the “Greatest of All Time” in gymnastics, given her record as the most decorated gymnast and holder of the most Olympic medals for the U.S.
Heller shared details of the custom piece on Instagram.
“In the realm of gymnastics, few names resonate as profoundly as Simone Biles,” Heller’s post on Tuesday, July 30, said. “…to commemorate her remarkable achievements and undeniable legacy, Simone Biles commissioned these exquisite pieces from Janet Heller Fine Jewelry.”
The caption continued, “The GOAT necklace, a three-dimensional masterpiece adorned with 546 diamonds, embodies her unparalleled status in gymnastics. Crafted with meticulous precision, this piece reflects her dedication, perseverance, and the spirit that has inspired generations.”
After winning the all-around final, Biles explained the significance of her custom GOAT necklace to reporters.
“My goat necklace, is just kind of an ode, because the people love it and then some people hate it, so it’s like the best of both worlds. And I was like, okay, if it goes well, I’ll wear the goat necklace, I know people will go crazy over it,” the athlete said. “But at the end of the day, it is crazy that I’m in the conversation of greatest of all time athletes, because I still think I’m Simone Biles from Spring, Texas, that loves to flip.”
