Jewelry experts spend their lives surrounded by fabulous stones and rediscovered treasures. Is it possible to choose just one all-time favorite piece? Seven professionals in the field were asked for the most memorable gem they have seen, whether in an auction, a public or private collection or the corner of an antiques shop. Curiously, no one selected the most expensive or famous object he or she has encountered. For these connoisseurs, jewels are not just work, they are an affair of the heart.

Click on the photo gallery to the left to see their picks and read what they have to say.

"Set in Memory" originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's May 2008 Table of Contents.