Hurriyet, Turkey
March 12 2010

Setting the clock forward in Turkish-Armenia relations

Friday, March 12, 2010
VERCÄ°HAN ZÄ°FLÄ°OÄ?LU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

A new watch inspired by an old sundial will be dedicated to peace
between Turkey and Armenia, says Bedros TanıÅ?man, a Turkish-Armenian
master watchmaker who has designed timepieces for the biggest names in
the international luxury-watch industry. While not forgetting the
past, he says, it is important to look forward

A Swiss-based watchmaker is crafting a new timepiece with an ancient
name as a testimony to peace in his two homelands, Turkey and Armenia.

Award-winning watchmaker Bedros TanıÅ?man, the owner of renowned watch
brand Peter Tanisman, visited Istanbul earlier this week on a business
trip and spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review,
describing the city as his `indispensable breath.’

`It is not possible for Turks and Armenians to be pulled apart from
each other,’ said TanıÅ?man, 52. `I do not have a political stance, but
I’d like to give a message to the world: Do not cast a shadow [over
Turkish-Armenian relations].’

Recently, TanıÅ?man has been working on a special watch called
`Gnomon,’ after the ancient Greek word meaning `indicator,’ `one who
discerns’ or `that which reveals.’ The word was used to describe a
crucial part of ancient sundials.

`During one of my visits to Armenia, I came upon a sundial on the wall
of a monastery that was thousands of years old,’ the watchmaker said.
`That impressed me tremendously. I will combine a modern technique
with my own style and make Gnomon live again.’

TanıÅ?man said he is giving a symbolic value to the soon-to-be-unveiled
design. `I will dedicate it to the peaceful future of Turkish and
Armenian peoples,’ he said. `I cannot discern between the two and both
are very important for me. Let us put our clocks forward, not
backward, without denying the pain of the past. Let every tick remind
us of peace, friendship and the beautiful days of our future.’

The watchmaker’s awards

The well-known timepiece designer has also created `24 Hours,’ a
special watch for Turkey. `I tried to merge the Ottomans and Turkey
with my imagination,’ he said. `I used turquoise, while the numbers
are different than what is common.’

TanıÅ?man’s mother’s roots go back to the northern Anatolian province
of Amasya while his father’s ancestors came from the central province
of Sivas. He told the Daily News that he started working with jewelry
as an apprentice in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, like many Anatolian
Armenians, and dreamed of becoming the best jeweler in Turkey.

But in 1982, when he was only 24, he accepted a once-in-a-lifetime
offer from luxury watchmaker Cartier to move to Europe and work in
Switzerland. Since then, TanıÅ?man’s exclusive designs have made their
mark throughout the world. He has produced designs for Piaget, Chopard
and Audemars Piguet, in addition to Cartier.

TanıÅ?man founded his own brand, called Peter TanıÅ?man, in 2008. The
same year, his `Carousel’ design, an 83,000-euro watch studded with
552 diamonds, all placed by hand, ranked in the global top 10 at the
`Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Beneve’ contest. Another one of his
designs for Piaget was selected as number one in the contest.

Future plans

TanıÅ?man has traditionally made his watchbands with leather produced
from alligators and stingrays, a practice he says he is increasingly
regretting. `Until today, I used leather from animals, but my
conscience tells me to stop,’ he said. `Most probably, I will not use
animal leather in my new designs.’

Although he declined to reveal names, TanıÅ?man has made expensive
watches for a long list of the rich and powerful. `My customers
include royal families, Arab sheiks, Hollywood stars and members of
global high society,’ he said. `[But] our craft has a principle of
confidentiality.’

TanıÅ?man’s brand is now preparing to enter the Turkish market.

`There is an abundant demand here for luxury goods,’ he said. `I was
born in this land and I will be back with a brand that bears my name.’