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A pocket watch commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II to indicate Islamic prayer times has been offered for sale at $4,000 during the first Tesbih, Art, Antiques and Natural Stones Summit in Ankara. Held at ATO Congresium, the summit brings together collectors of prayer beads (tesbih), antiques, and natural stones from across Türkiye and beyond.
One of the standout pieces at the event is the so-called Hamidiye pocket watch, reportedly designed by Sultan Abdulhamid II himself and manufactured by his appointed master watchmaker, J. Tolayan. The rare timepiece is distinguished by its ability to display all five daily Islamic prayer times.
Kahraman Apaydin, a veteran watch dealer and exhibitor at the event, described the watch as “very special,” noting that while around 100 units were originally produced, only 20 to 25 are believed to remain in Türkiye today.
"We’re proud to have one in our hands," he said, adding that most of the original pieces are thought to have been sold abroad. According to Apaydin, the watch face appears to be a single dial, but is actually divided into three internal sections, each contributing to the mechanism that calculates the prayer times.
While expressing pride in exhibiting such a rare artifact, Apaydin made clear the watch is available for sale. “If we find the right buyer, we will sell it,” he said, stating that they are asking for $4,000.
Another highlight of the summit is a custom-designed prayer bead set crafted by Hamit Guldur, a third-generation master artisan recognized by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture. Guldur described the set as the realization of a lifelong dream.
The prayer beads are made from Oltu stone—a jet-black semi-precious stone traditionally quarried in northeastern Türkiye—and feature intricate detailing in gold, including golden minarets and inscriptions. Each bead is engraved with three of the 99 names of God in Islamic tradition, covering all names across the 33 beads.
Though the monetary value of the piece has been estimated at around $25,000, Guldur considers its spiritual and artistic worth to be far greater. “In my eyes, it’s worth a million dollars. There is nothing else like it in the world,” he said. The artist emphasized that he would only consider selling it to someone who truly appreciates and will preserve the value of the piece.
The Tesbih, Art, Antiques and Natural Stones Summit is open to the public at Ankara’s ATO Congressium through Aug. 3.
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