Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
Take a Look at Lightbox’s New $94M Manufacturing Lab
The new, 60,000-square-foot facility will produce 200,000 carats of lab-grown diamonds annually.

Gresham, Ore.—Lightbox, the De Beers-owned lab-grown diamond brand, is cutting the ribbon on its $94 million manufacturing lab just outside of Portland, Oregon.
As production ramps up, the new, 60,000-square-foot facility will produce 200,000 carats of lab-grown diamonds annually.
“The opening of this facility is a true milestone for the company,” Lightbox CEO Steve Coe said in a press release announcing the opening.
“Manufacturing lab-grown diamonds in the U.S. was a goal from the beginning, and we are so proud to have achieved it with this state-of-the-art laboratory in a region that has become a hub for advanced industries.”
Designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Sheehan Nagle Hartray, the two-story white building resembles the facets of a diamond.
RELATED CONTENT: To Sell, Or Not To Sell: That’s the Lab-Grown Question
The space includes a production floor, mechanical and electrical support spaces, labs, offices, and conference rooms.
The facility will employ 60 full-time engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel.
On the first floor sits a central command station, situated to oversee the lab-grown diamond production space, as well as meeting spaces and a dining area.
The second floor houses office space, with an overlook down to the ground floor.
Both floors will have a view of custom art installations, inspired by the lab-grown diamond fabrication process, Lightbox said.
The brand held a virtual opening of the new facility Thursday to give a closer look at the space.
The presentation opened with a greeting from Adam O’Grady, general manager of the Lightbox lab, who spoke about the company’s journey and why it chose Gresham, Oregon to be the site of the new facility.
“It provides us with access to a very high-quality renewable electrical infrastructure, which is capable of meeting both our immediate power requirements but was also future-proof for growth.”
O’Grady praised the Portland metro area and noted that many employees are from the surrounding area.
Coe answered a few questions sent in by attendees.
On the topic of larger diamonds, Coe said it was possible Lightbox may supply stones over 1-carat in size.
“It’s still a little too early to confirm, but I can say, watch this space,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a few 2-carat stones appearing in some of our jewelry during 2021.”
De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver spoke next, lamenting that the Lightbox lab opening was unable to happen in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cleaver clarified Lightbox’s space in the De Beers portfolio.
“De Beers is a natural diamond business
The company recently announced a partnership with jewelry e-tailer giant Blue Nile, launching an exclusive collection of fashion jewelry on its site earlier this week.
SEE: Inside the New Lightbox Facility
The Latest

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

Two existing executives have been given new roles.


Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.

GemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.