Inside a traditional jewellery workshop

Summary

• A Lifetime of experience in the jewellery business At 78, Ümit Berksoy has spent more than half a century working in the Grand Bazaar’s jewellery trade.
• Shops like these show that the Grand Bazaar’s history is preserved not only in its old buildings but also in the people who have dedicated their lives to their work.
• They have also played an important role in the Grand Bazaar’s jewellery trade.

AI Generated Summary

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest shopping markets, with a history stretching back more than 500 years. Known for its colourful shops gold jewellery, precious stones and crowds of tourists, the historic market has another side that many visitors never see.

Behind its busy streets is a network of skilled goldsmiths gemstone experts jewellery designers and craftspeople who have spent years learning their trades.

Their skills, trust and long standing business relationships help keep the bazaar’s old traditions alive.

According to CNN, the Grand Bazaar is much more than a place to shop. It is a historic centre where traditional skills, family businesses, and the relationship between teachers and students continue to play an important role.

A Lifetime of experience in the jewellery business

At 78, Ümit Berksoy has spent more than half a century working in the Grand Bazaar’s jewellery trade. For him, the market’s real value is not limited to expensive jewellery and precious stones.  He believes its skilled craftspeople are an important part of its identity.

When Berksoy needs a valuable ruby prepared he turns to craftsmen he has known for decades. Their long experience of working together means they often understand each other without needing many words.

A few gestures and a short conversation can be enough to explain how a particular design should be made. This level of understanding comes from years of shared work and trust.

Such relationships show how business operates in the Grand Bazaar. Success here depends not only on selling products but also on experience personal connections and long term partnerships.

Historic shops that have survived for generations

Some shops in the Grand Bazaar have been operating for more than a century. Their history is closely linked to the people who have spent much of their lives working behind their counters.

One example is Abraham, a shop named after its Armenian founder. It has been selling gold and other precious metals since 1882.

Another historic business is Epok, an antiques shop established in 1865. There, 76-year-old Gevork Teminyan works alongside his apprentice, Ibrahim Halil Eserk.

Teminyan began his career at the same shop as a young assistant. Over the years, he gained experience and became one of the people responsible for keeping the business running.

According to Teminyan, economic difficulties have led more people to sell their valuable antiques. Despite these challenges, he hopes conditions will improve and the business will continue.