Zildjian holds the bragging rights to being both the world’s largest cymbal manufacturer and, at close to 400 years old, the oldest family-run business in the United States.

Founder Avedis Zildjian crafted his first cymbals in Istanbul way back in 1623. Tradition says that he was an alchemist who was attempting to turn ordinary metals into gold. As it turns out, you could say that he succeeded. Today, rockers, jazz musicians, marching bands, and orchestras the world over gladly exchange their cash for the Avedis Zildjian Company’s renowned cymbals, gongs, drumsticks, and other esteemed percussion products.

There are currently 2 main types of Zildjian cymbals. One type is made from bronze castings; the other is fashioned from sheets of bronze alloy. For nearly 400 years, the formula for the Zildjian cymbal alloy has been passed down in the Zildjian family as part of a secret manufacturing process.

As famous as Zildjian is for its history, the company is equally famous for its innovations. Zildjian first developed cymbals for drum kits, and was the originator of the names now commonly used to designate cymbals in a drum set: hi-hat, ride, "paper thin" crash, sizzle, and splash among them.