The watch market in Turkey continues to grow. According to information compiled from the data of the Association of All Watchmaker Businessmen (TÜSAD) for the October 10 World Watchmaking Day, it is estimated that annual watch sales in the country are in the range of 7.5-8 million units. It is stated that the market size has reached approximately 1.5 billion dollars as of 2025.
According to industry representatives, Turkey is one of the vibrant markets for watches due to both gift-giving habits and interest in brand stories. TÜSAD Chairman of the Board Ahmet Aydın stated that watches are popular among both women and men in Turkey, assessing that, "For this reason, Turkey is one of the good markets."
SWISS DOMINANCE IN IMPORTS
Turkey's watch imports increased by 14.7 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, rising to 525.4 million dollars. Imports are expected to reach around 600 million dollars by the end of this year. In the same period, the number of imported watches reached 7.57 million, an increase of 1.5 percent.
Switzerland held the largest share in imports by value. According to 2025 data, purchases from Switzerland accounted for 71.3 percent of total imports by value and 6.8 percent by volume. This picture shows that Swiss-origin products maintain their weight in the high-price segment.
An increase was also recorded in watch exports. In 2025, exports rose to 41.4 million dollars, while the number of exported watches was 349 thousand 608 units. It is stated that domestic watch production in Turkey is limited and that sales are largely met by products coming from countries such as Switzerland, China, Japan, and Germany.
Aydın said that the Turkish watch market is expected to reach 2.35 billion dollars in 2028. Stating that there are approximately 8 thousand watch sales and repair shops in the country, Aydın noted that the demand for expensive watches is concentrated in large cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Antalya, Adana, and Bursa.
Çağrı Gündoğdu, a member of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Opticians and Watchmakers Professional Committee, said that two topics stand out in consumer trends: the return to old brands, referred to as vintage, and the increasing interest in micro-brands. According to Gündoğdu, innovative and mechanical-focused collections produced in small workshops are forcing traditional brands to change as well.
Stating that the idea of World Watchmaking Day originated in Turkey, Gündoğdu explained that the choice of October 10 was inspired by the "10:10" dial layout frequently used in watch visuals. Gündoğdu also noted that initiatives are underway for the day to become a cultural heritage and to be included in the UNESCO calendar.
Education is also on the sector's future agenda. Reminding that watchmaking education has started at the high school level in Bursa, Gündoğdu stated that they aim to open a similar school in Istanbul in the coming period, and that technical vocational programs in universities could also provide qualified personnel to the sector.
News Source: 12punto
