Clay Zava’s journey began as a childhood "rock hound" in the mountains of the western Carolinas, where he discovered antique marbles and minerals like sapphires. This early curiosity, nurtured by his grandmother, evolved into a career defined by an exceptional understanding of light and mineral form. Signature Styles and Innovations
, founded by master lapidarist Clay Zava , is a renowned name in the world of high-end gemstone cutting, recognized for blending 40 years of precision with an artistic, "perfectly imperfect" philosophy . Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Zava’s work has earned over a dozen American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Cutting Edge Awards . The Evolution of a Master Cutter zavamastercuts
Zava's expertise is so highly regarded that he was selected as a judge for the 2025 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, evaluating the world's finest gemstone designs based on craftsmanship and technical quality. Clay Zava’s journey began as a childhood "rock
: He is known for faceting challenging and rare materials, including sphalerite, clinohumite, and spessartite garnets. Industry Influence Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Zava’s work has
: Perhaps his most iconic innovation, this signature cut has won multiple Cutting Edge awards for its unique balance and brilliance.
: Zava often works directly with top jewelry designers, such as Claudia Endler , to create custom-faceted stones that act as the centerpiece for one-of-a-kind wearable art.
For those seeking exceptional loose stones, his Shopify store frequently features "cherry-picked" gems cut from rough sourced globally, including unheated aquamarine and vibrant tourmalines. Zava Mastercuts - Claudia Endler Designs