Each Zildjian cymbal that is made carries a maker’s stamp. These stamps have changed over the years in a subtle and not so subtle manner and therefore they represent a timeline of sorts and a way of evaluating the ages of cymbals.

There were no stamps before 1928


First Stamp 1920s-30s

  • Note a more rounded ‘J’ in Zildjian in 30s, more square J in 1920s original

Trans stamp 1940-1950

  • Clean stamp three dots missing from logo
  • Punched with uneven pressure – heavy ZI and Co on ZIldjian Co

    Transition or Trans Stamp - 1940s

Big Stamp 1950s

So called because the name ‘zildjian’ is much larger and in outline – rest of text quite thin

Sixties Stamp 1960s

  • Clean deep stamp
  • Three dots included
  • Avedis Zildjian in bold

1950s - nice even stamp. Zildjian larger & stronger text

Thin Stamp 1970s

  • A very recognisable stamp where the overall line thickness is the same for Avedis Zildjian as the rest of the stamp

Other Stamps

  • K Istanbul Stamp

The Holy Grail. K Istanbul

Castantinople

Gretch distributed K zildjians fron Turkey and A(Aram) zildjians from Romania (A Zildjian & Cie dissolved in 1926) until Aram moved to the USA in 1928 to start the Avedis Zildjian Co.

Gretsch owned the constantinople trademark but did not use it from 1928 and A.Zildjian claimed it back in 1958. A US Court cancelled the Gretsch rights to the Trademark – read the Report Constantinople trademark – Zildjian Vs Gretsch