It is no small feat to produce a cymbal that rings in such a way as to enchant the human ear. The secret lies in an ancient partnership between the alloy that is used, and the unique way it is cast.
You need only strike a well-made cymbal to discover a surprising depth of sensitivity!

We at TURKISH CYMBALS treasure the magic of this relationship between a musician and his instrument. We understand the spirit of the old ways. The saga of our cymbals is not unlike that surrounding Stradivarius and the mysterious violin varnishes he used to create enduring masterpieces that survive today in the hands of the world’s greatest violinists. Our cymbals are a testimony to ancient secrets, passed down orally and in strictest confidence from generation to generation within Istanbul-based cymbal smiths.

The cymbal-making process is a dramatic one that employs ancient techniques from the early 17th century. Red-hot discs are forged in great, fiery ovens. These discs are made of bronze, a metal which is not found in the earth. Rather, it is an alloy fashioned from a mixture of tin and copper. The magic of Turkish Cymbals starts here. Our smiths demand only the finest quality bronze. Once the alloy passes their strict quality standards, they melt it down, and pour hot, liquid bronze into a mould shaped like a cymbal. Upon cooling, the disc is reheated in a traditional oven stoked with wood & coal. Rolling mills are fed these red-hot castings. As each casting hardens, a cup is added, and this becomes the bell of the cymbal. Our smith then retrieves the cymbal, and begins hammering it by hand. The tone, as well as the pitch, is created in this way. After each disc is hammered and coaxed into perfection, it is ready for the final step in the process. The new cymbal is spun upon a lathe until it is perfectly round. The lathe may also cut grooves to add character. Finally, our cymbal is either left with a natural finish, or refined with a mirror-like, high polish. As with every other step in the process, the polish is added with care and devotion by hand.

Now our creation is ready to be played! Rare and magical instruments, our cymbals each have unique voices that will continue to sing for as long as you own them. Quite naturally, they unite the ancient past of Istanbul with the future of music all around the world. And they are made to enchant the ears, unlike the mass-produced trinkets that our competition dares to call cymbals. At TURKISH, we create individual works of art. Our cymbals are either perfect, or they are thrown onto the rubbish heap. There are no “factory seconds.” If a cymbal bares our logo, it has attained perfection.