The scarcity of the amount of silver found in nature and the fact that it can only be reached by going deep makes it more valuable. Silver is used in many fields such as medicine, photography, dentistry, earning coins, batteries, and mirrors. Silver, which can be found free and alone, as well as with many components, is extracted from the Gümüşköy district of Kütahya in our country.

Turkish Silver Working

Turks give importance to silver and silver processing from ancient times. It is one of the indispensable occupations in the old Turkish tribes and Steppe Turkish culture. So much that the Turks painted important figures by carving on metal and wood. These figures embroidered on portable materials reflecting Turkish cultures, such as belt buckles, swords, dagger hilts, horse harnesses, and ornaments. There are motifs engraved in gold and silver mines by the ancient Turks. The king tents and thrones decorated with these motifs indicate that they are a deep-rooted civilization with aesthetic.

In recent archaeological excavations in Central Asia, 2800 gold and silver ornaments, which determined to belong to the Göktürk ruler Bilge Kagan and kept in a silver chest, found. There is also a crown pediment decorated with the Phoenix motifs of Bilge Kağan. Apart from these, there are also many valuable silver items. This priceless treasure included in the world heritage list. All of these are important in showing us how advanced the art dimension of silver working, reached in the pre-Islamic period.

Again, in Central Asian Turkish culture, colored stone and silver working had advanced. The traditional techniques in question are still valid in the Central Asian region. It also continue to come to life, especially in the Ashgabat and Merv Regions of Turkmenistan.

The forging technique, which is the oldest metalworking technique, emerged after the first discovery of mines. The primary materials of a blacksmith are also the essential tools necessary for the art of jewelry. Some of them are basic materials such as anvil, vise, pliers, hammers, file, scissors, and wire drawing mold. These preferred because they easily portable, which compatible with the lifestyle of the Turks.

Metal Art in Anatolia

The Turks, who made advanced mining and silver work in Turkestan, continued this after they came to Anatolia. There are  of copper and lead ornaments in the archaeological excavations at Çatalhöyük, which has a history of more than 8,000 years. It directed the researchers to the existence of metallurgical art in Anatolia and the finds strengthened the idea that Anatolia was the first address of this art.

During the Seljuk period, there were many mines and mines in Anatolia. The Seljuks used silver to print money. According to sources, silver mined from four different places in Anatolia at that time. And in these mines, high-quality silver obtained. Thus, we see that the history of silver working dates back to ancient times in the Turks.

Today, the art of silver working still exists in Turkey. At the same time, Telkari is the art of silverwork unique to Turkey. Well-trained artisans and silversmiths still maintain this tradition. Silver working has gained an important place in Turkish culture.  Moreover, silver working in Turkey is also in demand from the world.

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Turkish Gold Jewelry Industry

The roots of the Turkish gold jewelry production tradition go back 5000 years. All civilizations that lived in Anatolia created many pieces of jewelry for religious and aesthetic purposes. Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians, Ionians, Lydians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans, who ruled in Anatolia, developed their jewelry styles. Among the many different jewelry styles, the Seljuks brought the most essential jewelry style to Anatolia. With the growth and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire, the art of jewelry gained importance in Istanbul. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, Istanbul became one of the most critical jewelry centers of the world. There are also historical sources that jewelry fairs held in Istanbul during this period.

Today, the Turkish jewelry industry uses innovative designs and modern technology and techniques that carry the legacy and traces of this traditional and rich jewelry-making tradition.

Production

Turkey is among the five largest markets globally regarding gold jewelry market size, India, China, the USA, and Russia. It is among the top three countries in production, along with India and Italy.

In our country, approximately 250-300 tons of gold jewelry produced every year. The sector is among the largest of the Turkish manufacturing sectors and employs about 250 thousand people. There are approximately 5 thousand manufacturers and 35 thousand retail stores in the industry. However, the gold jewelry production center in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir is also important. In some provinces in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, production with traditional lines is also available. Jewelry manufacturers export 30-40% of the output. The rest is sold to domestic consumers, tourists, and luggage traders.

Istanbul Gold Exchange (IAB)

IAB started its activities in 1995 to liberalize the Turkish Gold Industry and harmonize with international markets. Exchange members consist of banks, authorized institutions, precious metal intermediary institutions, and unique metal production and marketing organizations. The IGE enables gold supply and demand organizations to meet in an organized market environment. It works to provide production financing of the jewelry sector at lower costs and securitize gold by trading in financial markets. It acts as a bridge between the gold sector and also the financial sector.

Exports of the Turkish Jewelry Industry

In the last 20-25 years, the investment tools used by individuals have increased due to the change in the Turkish economy. In addition to purchasing gold jewelry for investment purposes, there has been a trend towards other investment instruments. As a result, domestic demand for gold jewelry fell. This situation encouraged the producers in the sector to open up to foreign markets. In addition, the removal of import and export restrictions applied to precious metals in 1993 was also influential in the opening of the sector abroad.

Although the history of gold jewelry exports dates back to the last 20-25 years, it has performed exceptionally well. Turkey ranks ninth in gold jewelry exports in 2018. 30-40% of the annual production amount exported. The rest is sold to domestic consumers, tourists, and also luggage traders.

Five major jewelry fairs are held every year in Turkey. These are “Antalya Jewellery, Silver and Watch Fair,” “Istanbul International Watch, Jewelry Machinery and Equipment Fair,” “Istanbul Jewelry Show -IJS,” “Izmir JEWEX Fair” and “Çukurova Gold and Jewelry Fair.”

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