Zildjian was founded in Constantinople in 1623 by Avedis Zildjian, an Armenian alchemist who discovered a secret bronze alloy that could be hammered into a cymbal capable of producing a clear, musical tone without shattering. The Ottoman Sultan was so impressed that he granted Avedis the surname Zildjian — meaning ‘cymbal smith’ in Armenian — and the family has been making cymbals ever since. The secret alloy formula has been passed down through the Zildjian family for four centuries and remains one of the most closely guarded secrets in the music industry.

The K Constantinople series represents the pinnacle of Zildjian's craft — handcrafted cymbals that recreate the sound of the original Ottoman-era Zildjian cymbals. Each K Constantinople cymbal is individually hammered and lathed by skilled craftspeople, meaning that no two cymbals are identical. The result is a range of cymbals with an extraordinarily complex, dark, dry tone that responds with exceptional sensitivity to the lightest touch — qualities that have made K Constantinople cymbals the choice of the world's finest jazz drummers for generations.

The A series — named after founder Avedis Zildjian — is the bright, versatile workhorse of the Zildjian range, used across rock, pop, jazz and every style in between. The A Custom series refines this further with a more focused, cutting tone suited to modern music production. The K series sits between the A and K Constantinople in character — darker and more complex than the A, but more consistent and accessible than the hand-hammered Constantinople.

The I Family brings Zildjian quality to drummers at the beginning of their journey, offering the Zildjian sound and manufacturing standards at an accessible price point. The I Family packs provide a complete cymbal setup in a single purchase, making them an ideal choice for drummers building their first kit.

At Into Music Store, we stock one of the most comprehensive Zildjian ranges available from a UK cymbal store. Visit our showroom in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, to hear and try Zildjian cymbals in person, or shop online with free UK shipping on orders over £175.