October 10th Accepted as World Watchmaking Day

The watch, which was first used by the Ancient Egyptians in 4000 BC, has been an inseparable part of our lives for centuries.
In order to remind and emphasize the important place of the watch in human life, the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Watchmaking and Opticians Professional Committee Assembly accepted October 10th as “World Watchmaking Day” in accordance with the decision it made.

“World Watchmaking Day”, which was brought to the agenda with the suggestion of Dr. M. Çağrı Gündoğdu, Member of the ISTANBUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ITO) Watchmaking and Opticians Professional Committee Assembly, was discussed in the assembly and it was decided that October 10th would be accepted as “World Watchmaking Day”.
Mahmut Şevket Arıkan, Chairman of the ITO Watchmaking and Opticians Professional Committee, stated that they support World Watchmaking Day and that it will raise awareness for the sector.

Hayrettin Akpınar, the Chairman of the Micromechanics and Watch Technologies Education and Research Foundation, established in Bursa with the aim of conducting all kinds of scientific and technical studies for the education and development of the watchmaking profession and micromechanical technology, also drew attention to the importance of World Watchmaking Day. Therefore, he stated that they will participate in the foundation center with events specific to “World Watchmaking Day” in order to show their support.

Ahmet Kadri Aydın, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the All Watchmakers Businessmen Association (TÜSAD), also expressed his satisfaction with the declaration of October 10 as “World Watchmaking Day”.
Dr. M. Çağrı Gündoğdu, the Assembly Member of the ITO, Watchmaking and Opticians Profession Committee, defined watchmaking as “a very beautiful and meaningful profession that deals with watches, which are our indispensable complements that remind us of the most important moments of our lives, that we sometimes carry on our wrists, sometimes on our hearts, sometimes save a life, even a nation, and sometimes accompany us in our living spaces, in addition to measuring time, which is the most limited resource we have as human beings.” Gündoğdu emphasized that watchmaking is also one of the rare professions that expresses a tradition that has been passed down from past to present, from grandfather to grandchild. He particularly drew attention to the fact that, as watchmakers, almost all of us have been striving to continue this school, which we have been attached to with such spiritual feelings for many years, and which we see as a life journey rather than a profession.

Çağrı Gündoğdu stated that there is no doubt that it is not possible to fit the meaning and importance of watchmaking into a single day; however, he expressed his happiness that it was the opportunity to come up with the idea of ​​celebrating such a day for the first time in order to create sectoral awareness.
İTO Watchmaking and Opticians Profession Committee Assembly Member Dr. M. Çağrı Gündoğdu emphasized that he was grateful to İTO President Şekib Avdagiç and Board Members, İTO Watchmaking and Opticians Profession Committee, Board Chairman Mahmut Şevket Arıkan and all committee assembly members for their support.