The bigger the diamond, the more valuable and beautiful. This is something we all believe to be true. Try to name three famous diamonds from the top of your mind, the first will almost always be the Hope Diamond or the Tiffany Yellow Diamond.

Yet, there are other factors that determine a diamond’s real worth and beauty. Keeping this mind, following are some of the world’s lesser known, but equally beautiful, diamonds.

The Eureka Diamond

This diamond is famous for being the ‘first discovered diamond in South Africa’. The Eureka Diamond paved the way for diamond mining, so this gemstone has to be valuable! Unlike other famous stones, the Eureka Diamond isn’t huge in size (10.73 carat) and features a ‘smoky cut’.

The diamond’s first public appearance was made in 1867 at the Paris Exhibition.

The Nizam Diamond

This diamond could have become one of the world’s most recognizable if it hadn’t been lost. The Nizam Diamond was India’s pride and joy, at one point.

Featuring a quite impressive 277 carat weight and uniquely cut irregular facets, the diamond could have rivaled most of the famous of the world!

It was during the wartime of 1830s in India, that the stone vanished forever after being held for generations by the famous Nizam family.

The Lesser Star of Africa

Known as the ‘sister stone’ to the Star of Africa, this lesser known diamond isn’t any less beautiful. This 317.40 carat and stone is part of the Cullinan Diamond collection always comes in second place because of the substantially larger Cullinan 1.

Set in a cushion cut, the Lesser Star of Africa is part of the Imperial State Crown worn by British monarchs.

The Sancy

First owned by Charles the Bold AKA Duke of Burgundy, the 55 carats Sancy was lost in battle in 1477.

The history of the Sancy Diamond is filled with royals borrowing the stone (King Henry III attached the diamond in a cap and wore it) to selling the gemstone.

The last of the Stuart Kings of England, James II fled to Paris with the diamond which disappeared during the French revolution.   

The Hortensia

Named after the Queen of Holland, the 20 carats peach colored diamond isn’t given the attention it deserves. There is mystery attached to this beautiful stone, starting from its namesake (Napoleon Bonaparte’s alleged step-daughter) to circumstances of its disappearance and re-discovery.

Visitors can view the diamond at the Louvre in Paris, as the Hortensia is part of the French Crown Jewels.

Diamonds are forever, which is why tales of history’s lost diamond are being told even today. Invest in a beautiful diamond, one that you can call your own and hand down to your children. Solitaire Jewelers invites you.