Learn English – the best word to describe an “object of importance” without inquiring about its past? (i.e. not memento)

phrasessingle-word-requestsword-choice

I'm looking for a word to describe a gift. The way I am using this word is to describe the item in way that a person who receives this gift would almost worship it because it means so much.

The words that I do NOT think work in describing this object include:
memento, souvenir, keepsake, memorial
(things that make you think about the past)

I'm looking for a word that is SIMILAR to:
treasure, idol, pearl
(a word that gives significance to the object more it's meaning or origin)

Best Answer

talisman - anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions.

The more "literal, core" sense is a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm, but it's often used more loosely as per the above definition (see these example written instances of "treasured talisman").