The first Zildjian Cymbals were created in 1618
in Istanbul, Turkey by an Armenian by the name
of Avedis. In 1968, the K. Zildjian Company and
all European trademarks were bought to the US
by Robert Zildjian on behalf of the Avedis Zildjian
Company.

In 1979, Avedis died and Robert split from Zildjian
due to a conflict with his brother, Armand. As
Armand headed up the Zildjian Cymbal Company,
Robert began his own line of cymbals known as
Sabian in the Canadian Azco plant in 1981.

Armand Zildjian died in 2002 leaving the Avedis
Zildjian Cymbal Company in the hands of his
two daughters.

Nearly 400 years old, the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal
Company is the world's largest manufacturer of
cymbals and other products such as drum
sticks and other drum accessories, and has
been officially recognized as the oldest
continually family-owned business in America.