Diane Krutz, of Leechburg, Pa., received the Keystone Award of Excellence, garnering the first place award in the design category by the Pennsylvania Jewelers Association, for the PINKie Promise™ Ring.

Krutz, who graduated from Seton Hill University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in management, was inspired to design the ring prior to starting treatment for breast cancer in 2007. The ring features two linking awareness ribbons cast in 14 karat rose gold and paved with .25 carat diamonds.

“I designed the PINKie Promise™ Ring to show you are never alone. I had seen single ribbon ‘cancer jewelry’ over the years. Right before I was to begin chemotherapy, I had a vision of a ring that had two linking ribbons. The entire ring was divinely inspired,” said Krutz.

The PINKie Promise™ Ring is available exclusively at Krutz Jewelers in Leechburg, Pa., which was founded by Krutz’s parents, the late William J. Krutz and current store owner Stella Krutz. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each PINKie Promise™ Ring is directed to organizations dedicated to the research and prevention of breast cancer. For more information on the PINKie Promise™ Ring, visit www.pinkiepromisering.com.