Istanbul, February 22 – Istanbul is increasingly becoming a preferred center for the repair and restoration of luxury and branded watches, with foreign clients, especially from Europe, opting for its workshops due to competitive pricing and the renowned expertise of its watchmakers.
Zekai Ataç: A Master Watchmaker with 55 Years of Experience
Zekai Ataç, a 70-year-old watchmaker who has been practicing his craft in Istanbul for 55 years, serves both domestic and international clients for the repair of luxury and Swiss-branded watches. Ataç began his apprenticeship at an early age alongside his uncles and has been operating his own shop in Sirkeci since 1990. He specialized in branded watch repair from his youth, performing repair and revision services for world-renowned brands.
Ataç noted that the market value of Swiss watches varies widely. “Today, there are watches starting from 25-30 thousand Turkish Liras, as well as models ranging from 15-20 thousand dollars up to 100 thousand dollars,” he stated.
Regarding repair costs, Ataç indicated that as of this year, the repair fee for automatic branded watches is 19,000 Turkish Liras. For wind-up wall clocks, this figure ranges from 7,500 to 11,000 Turkish Liras, while chronograph repairs can cost up to 1,000 dollars.
30% Increase in Foreign Clients for Branded Watch Repair
Ataç, who has been involved in the repair of valuable watches for approximately 30-35 years, has gained international recognition in this field. He explained that foreign customers prefer Istanbul because service fees in Turkey are relatively more affordable.
He mentioned having clients from many European countries, with watches brought for repair from Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, and Finland. He also noted that he has regular clients who bring watches from Munich.
Ataç further elaborated, “In the last 2-3 years, there has been an average 30% increase in foreign customers coming to Istanbul for the repair of luxury and branded watches. As our reputation grows, our functionality also comes to the forefront. Many people come to Istanbul to have their branded watches repaired. Especially those who deal in ‘vintage’ watches, buying, selling, repairing, maintaining, and then selling them abroad, are very common. The internet has also been very helpful in this business. Istanbul is a center for the repair of luxury watches, for bringing them back to life.”
Zekai Ataç emphasized that while European luxury watchmakers learn their trade in schools, Turkish craftsmen, who have learned through years of hands-on experience, are often more successful and faster.
Ataç also pointed out that in some aspects, foreign countries might be cheaper than Turkey, but generally, Turkish workshops offer more affordable prices. “Turkey is already a country with a name in watchmaking worldwide. The world considers Europe to be the watchmakers, but we are a Muslim country, and time is very important to us. So, Turkey is one of the few countries in the world that loves watches,” he added.
