5 Ways Olympic Figure Skating is like Jewelry Design

Hi Gems!

I'm writing this with goosebumps. Last month, I had the incredible privilege of attending the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in person—and I watched the athletes who are representing Team USA at the Olympics RIGHT NOW step onto the ice and deliver performances that left me breathless.

Sitting in those stands, watching them land jumps and nail spins under that kind of pressure, I kept thinking: "This is exactly what I do at my jeweler's bench."

I know that sounds wild, but hear me out.

THE MAGIC OF BEING THERE

There's something about watching figure skating live that you just can't get through a screen. The sound of blades carving into the ice. The way the entire arena holds its breath during a jump. The collective gasp when someone lands a quad, or the sympathetic groan when they don't.

I saw programs that were flawless and programs that fell apart—and both taught me something.

I watched skaters perform with such joy that you could feel it in the rafters. I saw others fall on their opening jump, then get up and fight for every element after that. And I thought: "That's tenacity. That's artistry. That's what it looks like to create something beautiful even when it's hard."

Now, as I watch some of these same athletes compete at the Olympics, I'm cheering not just as a fan, but as someone who understands what it takes to show up, do the work, and trust that the hours of practice will hold you when the pressure is on.

Because that's my life at the jeweler's bench, too.

I wasn't a high-level competitive skater myself—I spent time on the ice as a teen and young adult, but life took me in a different direction. Still, I never stopped watching, learning, and being inspired by the sport. And over the years, I've realized that the lessons I learned from figure skating are the exact same lessons that make me a better jewelry designer.

So here are 5 Ways Olympic Figure Skating is Like Jewelry Design—lessons I carry with me every single day.

1. TENACITY: GETTING UP AFTER THE FALL

Both figure skaters and jewelry designers develop their tenacity through failure.

There are so many times that things don't work out the way they're intended. A skater under-rotates a jump and crashes to the ice. A jeweler overheats a solder joint and melts the bezel they just spent an hour perfecting.

The ice doesn't care about your feelings. Neither does sterling silver.

But here's the thing: both teach you that failure isn't the opposite of success—it's the price of admission.

At Nationals, I watched a skater fall on their opening element. For a split second, you could see the devastation on their face. But then they got up, reset, and fought for every single jump, spin, and step sequence after that. They didn't let one mistake define their entire program.

That's exactly what I do at my bench. When I mess up a solder joint or accidentally file through a bezel, I don't throw the piece across the room (okay, sometimes I want to). I take a breath, figure out what went wrong, and try again.

Having dreams, goals, and action plans really help when things get so tough that you want to quit. It's your motivation to (literally) pick yourself up when you fall.

What this means for you: When you wear a piece from JGJD, you're wearing proof that I didn't quit. And maybe that's the reminder you need today, too—that resilience looks good on you.

2. ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: MORE THAN JUST TECHNIQUE

Figure skaters and jewelry designers use their artistic expression to imagine and construct something beyond themselves.

It's not enough to just know how to do or make something. Artistry weaves everything together, creating something that is intrinsically more than just the sum of its parts and the techniques used.

For skaters, this translates into the choreography and mood they're trying to express in every one of their programs. A skater can land every jump perfectly, but if there's no emotion, no story, no connection with the audience, it's just athletic execution. The magic happens when technique meets artistry.

For jewelers, this means using creativity, curiosity, and design aesthetic in everything—from drawing ideas in a sketchbook to finishing each piece.

I don't just set stones or pierce metal. I choreograph wearable moments that say something about who you are.

Every curve, every gemstone placement, every texture is intentional. I'm not making "pretty things." I'm creating pieces that carry meaning, that spark joy, that help you show up as your most authentic self—whether that's in a corporate boardroom or at brunch with friends.

3. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: THE 10,000-HOUR TRUTH

Both figure skating and metalsmithing are very technically demanding. The skills required to do seemingly simple things are incredibly advanced.

Trust me, and anyone who's ever gone ice skating: the skill it takes just to move forward without falling down is immense! Let alone all the moves that National and Olympic athletes do that look effortless.

People see a finished ring and think, "Oh, that's cute." They don't see the decade of training it took to make that bezel sit flush or to figure out the right formula to create that ring's shank. Just like they don't see the years of 5 a.m. practice sessions that make a triple toe loop look effortless.

In jewelry design, it takes years of training to truly master techniques like stone setting, enameling, granulation, and hammering skills. Even the basics—sawing, filing, and sanding—take time and patience to get right.

Mastery is invisible by design. The better you are at something, the easier you make it look. And that's the paradox: the audience only sees the final four minutes on the ice or the finished piece in the display case. They don't see the thousands of hours that went into making it possible.

What this means for you: Every piece from JGJD represents years of training, hundreds of hours of practice, and a commitment to craftsmanship that you can feel the moment you put it on.

4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: CONSISTENCY OVER PERFECTION

Practice is what ties tenacity, technique, and artistry together.

You simply can't expect to get anything right the first time you try it. Whether it's learning the basics or reaching master-skill level, you have to put in the time until you can't mess up.

Yes, I said you have to practice until you can't mess up.

Because it's not enough to just practice until you get it right—creating consistency is key in both performances and in constructing wearable art.

A skater practices their program hundreds of times so that when they step onto Olympic ice in front of millions of viewers, their body knows what to do even when their mind is screaming with nerves.

I practice my techniques over and over so that when I'm working on a custom commission or a limited-edition piece, my hands know exactly how much pressure to apply, how long to heat the solder, how to set a stone so it's secure for a lifetime.

Consistency is the real flex.

What this means for you: When you invest in a piece from JGJD, you're getting jewelry that's been made with the same level of dedication and precision that Olympic athletes bring to their sport/. It's built to last, built to be worn, built to become part of your story.

5. INSPIRATION: WHAT WE CARRY WITH US

This is where both figure skating and jewelry give back to their fans.

These two different forms of beauty and strength inspire within us hope, joy, courage, and confidence (among other things) that we, as the audience, carry with us long after we watch or wear.

Watching the Olympics this week, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with this sport in the first place. It's not just about the jumps or the costumes (though let's be real, the sparkle doesn't hurt). It's about watching someone pour their entire heart into four minutes and leave everything on the ice.

That's what I want my jewelry to do for you.

I want you to put on a piece from JGJD and feel a little braver, a little more yourself, a little more ready to take on whatever your day throws at you. Whether that's a big presentation at work, a difficult conversation, or just the courage to show up as your quirky, elegant, authentic self.

What this means for you: My hope is that every time you wear a piece from JGJD, you carry a little bit of that Olympic spirit with you—the reminder that you're capable of beautiful, hard things.

BONUS: SPARKLE (Obviously)

What? Seriously, you knew I couldn't write about jewelry and skating without stating the obvious: they're both all about the sparkly bits! And an obsession with shiny, precious metals.

I mean, have you SEEN those costumes? The rhinestones, the sequins, the way the lights catch every movement? It's basically wearable jewelry on ice.

And yes, I'm absolutely here for it. ✨

Ilia Malinin's 2026 Olympic Short Program costume

Alyssa Liu's 2026 U.S. National's Free Skate costume

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea's 2026 Olympic Free Skate costumes

Madison Chock and Evan Bates' 2025 World Team Trophy Free Dance costumes

Kaori Sakamoto's 2026 Olympic Free Skate costume

Dianna Stellalo-Dudek's 2026 Short Program costume, designed by Oscar de la Renta. I'm so happy that she is healthy enough to compete!

 

CLOSING SECTION

There you have it—my 5 Ways Olympic Figure Skating is Like Jewelry Design!

Let's recap: both start with having the tenacity to keep going when things get tough, they delight us with their artistic expression, they wow us with their mastery of advanced technique, they remind us that you can't be an expert without practice, and they both inspire us to be our best selves.

And, both figure skating and jewelry remind us that it's okay to sparkle and shine.

As I continue watching the Olympics this week, I'll be cheering for Team USA and thinking about my own "Olympic moments"—every time I finish a piece and send it out into the world. That's my podium.

What about you? Are you watching the Olympics? Who are you rooting for? And what passion from your past still inspires your work today? Drop a comment below—I'd love to hear your story!I

Stay brilliant,
Josie

P.S. If this post resonated with you, you'll love my weekly newsletter where I share more behind-the-scenes stories from the bench (and sometimes the rink). Sign up here and get my free guide: "JGJD's Jewelry Care Cheat Sheet".

P.P.S. Want to wear a piece that celebrates your own tenacity and artistry? Check out the JG Signature Collection—designed for women who know that resilience looks good on them.

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Hi Gems!

I'm writing this with goosebumps. Last month, I had the incredible privilege of attending the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in person—and I watched the athletes who are representing Team USA at the Olympics RIGHT NOW step onto the ice and deliver performances that left me breathless.

Sitting in those stands, watching them land jumps and nail spins under that kind of pressure, I kept thinking: "This is exactly what I do at my jeweler's bench."

I know that sounds wild, but hear me out.

THE MAGIC OF BEING THERE

There's something about watching figure skating live that you just can't get through a screen. The sound of blades carving into the ice. The way the entire arena holds its breath during a jump. The collective gasp when someone lands a quad, or the sympathetic groan when they don't.

I saw programs that were flawless and programs that fell apart—and both taught me something.

I watched skaters perform with such joy that you could feel it in the rafters. I saw others fall on their opening jump, then get up and fight for every element after that. And I thought: "That's tenacity. That's artistry. That's what it looks like to create something beautiful even when it's hard."

Now, as I watch some of these same athletes compete at the Olympics, I'm cheering not just as a fan, but as someone who understands what it takes to show up, do the work, and trust that the hours of practice will hold you when the pressure is on.

Because that's my life at the jeweler's bench, too.

I wasn't a high-level competitive skater myself—I spent time on the ice as a teen and young adult, but life took me in a different direction. Still, I never stopped watching, learning, and being inspired by the sport. And over the years, I've realized that the lessons I learned from figure skating are the exact same lessons that make me a better jewelry designer.

So here are 5 Ways Olympic Figure Skating is Like Jewelry Design—lessons I carry with me every single day.

1. TENACITY: GETTING UP AFTER THE FALL

Both figure skaters and jewelry designers develop their tenacity through failure.

There are so many times that things don't work out the way they're intended. A skater under-rotates a jump and crashes to the ice. A jeweler overheats a solder joint and melts the bezel they just spent an hour perfecting.

The ice doesn't care about your feelings. Neither does sterling silver.

But here's the thing: both teach you that failure isn't the opposite of success—it's the price of admission.

At Nationals, I watched a skater fall on their opening element. For a split second, you could see the devastation on their face. But then they got up, reset, and fought for every single jump, spin, and step sequence after that. They didn't let one mistake define their entire program.

That's exactly what I do at my bench. When I mess up a solder joint or accidentally file through a bezel, I don't throw the piece across the room (okay, sometimes I want to). I take a breath, figure out what went wrong, and try again.

Having dreams, goals, and action plans really help when things get so tough that you want to quit. It's your motivation to (literally) pick yourself up when you fall.

What this means for you: When you wear a piece from JGJD, you're wearing proof that I didn't quit. And maybe that's the reminder you need today, too—that resilience looks good on you.

2. ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: MORE THAN JUST TECHNIQUE

Figure skaters and jewelry designers use their artistic expression to imagine and construct something beyond themselves.

It's not enough to just know how to do or make something. Artistry weaves everything together, creating something that is intrinsically more than just the sum of its parts and the techniques used.

For skaters, this translates into the choreography and mood they're trying to express in every one of their programs. A skater can land every jump perfectly, but if there's no emotion, no story, no connection with the audience, it's just athletic execution. The magic happens when technique meets artistry.

For jewelers, this means using creativity, curiosity, and design aesthetic in everything—from drawing ideas in a sketchbook to finishing each piece.

I don't just set stones or pierce metal. I choreograph wearable moments that say something about who you are.

Every curve, every gemstone placement, every texture is intentional. I'm not making "pretty things." I'm creating pieces that carry meaning, that spark joy, that help you show up as your most authentic self—whether that's in a corporate boardroom or at brunch with friends.

3. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: THE 10,000-HOUR TRUTH

Both figure skating and metalsmithing are very technically demanding. The skills required to do seemingly simple things are incredibly advanced.

Trust me, and anyone who's ever gone ice skating: the skill it takes just to move forward without falling down is immense! Let alone all the moves that National and Olympic athletes do that look effortless.

People see a finished ring and think, "Oh, that's cute." They don't see the decade of training it took to make that bezel sit flush or to figure out the right formula to create that ring's shank. Just like they don't see the years of 5 a.m. practice sessions that make a triple toe loop look effortless.

In jewelry design, it takes years of training to truly master techniques like stone setting, enameling, granulation, and hammering skills. Even the basics—sawing, filing, and sanding—take time and patience to get right.

Mastery is invisible by design. The better you are at something, the easier you make it look. And that's the paradox: the audience only sees the final four minutes on the ice or the finished piece in the display case. They don't see the thousands of hours that went into making it possible.

What this means for you: Every piece from JGJD represents years of training, hundreds of hours of practice, and a commitment to craftsmanship that you can feel the moment you put it on.

4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: CONSISTENCY OVER PERFECTION

Practice is what ties tenacity, technique, and artistry together.

You simply can't expect to get anything right the first time you try it. Whether it's learning the basics or reaching master-skill level, you have to put in the time until you can't mess up.

Yes, I said you have to practice until you can't mess up.

Because it's not enough to just practice until you get it right—creating consistency is key in both performances and in constructing wearable art.

A skater practices their program hundreds of times so that when they step onto Olympic ice in front of millions of viewers, their body knows what to do even when their mind is screaming with nerves.

I practice my techniques over and over so that when I'm working on a custom commission or a limited-edition piece, my hands know exactly how much pressure to apply, how long to heat the solder, how to set a stone so it's secure for a lifetime.

Consistency is the real flex.

What this means for you: When you invest in a piece from JGJD, you're getting jewelry that's been made with the same level of dedication and precision that Olympic athletes bring to their sport/. It's built to last, built to be worn, built to become part of your story.

5. INSPIRATION: WHAT WE CARRY WITH US

This is where both figure skating and jewelry give back to their fans.

These two different forms of beauty and strength inspire within us hope, joy, courage, and confidence (among other things) that we, as the audience, carry with us long after we watch or wear.

Watching the Olympics this week, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with this sport in the first place. It's not just about the jumps or the costumes (though let's be real, the sparkle doesn't hurt). It's about watching someone pour their entire heart into four minutes and leave everything on the ice.

That's what I want my jewelry to do for you.

I want you to put on a piece from JGJD and feel a little braver, a little more yourself, a little more ready to take on whatever your day throws at you. Whether that's a big presentation at work, a difficult conversation, or just the courage to show up as your quirky, elegant, authentic self.

What this means for you: My hope is that every time you wear a piece from JGJD, you carry a little bit of that Olympic spirit with you—the reminder that you're capable of beautiful, hard things.

BONUS: SPARKLE (Obviously)

What? Seriously, you knew I couldn't write about jewelry and skating without stating the obvious: they're both all about the sparkly bits! And an obsession with shiny, precious metals.

I mean, have you SEEN those costumes? The rhinestones, the sequins, the way the lights catch every movement? It's basically wearable jewelry on ice.

And yes, I'm absolutely here for it. ✨

Ilia Malinin's 2026 Olympic Short Program costume

Alyssa Liu's 2026 U.S. National's Free Skate costume

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea's 2026 Olympic Free Skate costumes

Madison Chock and Evan Bates' 2025 World Team Trophy Free Dance costumes

Kaori Sakamoto's 2026 Olympic Free Skate costume

Dianna Stellalo-Dudek's 2026 Short Program costume, designed by Oscar de la Renta. I'm so happy that she is healthy enough to compete!

 

CLOSING SECTION

There you have it—my 5 Ways Olympic Figure Skating is Like Jewelry Design!

Let's recap: both start with having the tenacity to keep going when things get tough, they delight us with their artistic expression, they wow us with their mastery of advanced technique, they remind us that you can't be an expert without practice, and they both inspire us to be our best selves.

And, both figure skating and jewelry remind us that it's okay to sparkle and shine.

As I continue watching the Olympics this week, I'll be cheering for Team USA and thinking about my own "Olympic moments"—every time I finish a piece and send it out into the world. That's my podium.

What about you? Are you watching the Olympics? Who are you rooting for? And what passion from your past still inspires your work today? Drop a comment below—I'd love to hear your story!I

Stay brilliant,
Josie

P.S. If this post resonated with you, you'll love my weekly newsletter where I share more behind-the-scenes stories from the bench (and sometimes the rink). Sign up here and get my free guide: "JGJD's Jewelry Care Cheat Sheet".

P.P.S. Want to wear a piece that celebrates your own tenacity and artistry? Check out the JG Signature Collection—designed for women who know that resilience looks good on them.