Our latest addition to the “Cities” collection is the "Tribute to Istanbul" timepiece. Magana continues its journey of intertwining history with the present, paying homage to thousand-year-old cities.
Istanbul, was founded by greek settlers from Megara on the 7th century BC and was originally named Byzantion. Nine centuries later, the city was conquered by the Roman Emperor Constantine who first named it the New Rome before giving it the name Constantinople, a name that remained until the modern era.
The city served as an imperial capital for almost 1600 years: during the Roman/Byzantine (330–1204), Latin (1204–1261), late Byzantine (1261–1453), and Ottoman (1453–1922) empires.[12] The city grew in size and influence, eventually becoming a beacon of the Silk Road and one of the most important cities in history. The city played a key role in the advancement of Christianity during Roman/Byzantine times, hosting four of the first seven ecumenical councils before its transformation to an Islamic stronghold following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE—especially after becoming the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1517.[13] In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced the city as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey.
To this very day, it is still possible to stroll around the oldest parts of the world’s 15th largest city, and experience sensorially the very same colors, odors, sounds and foods as our ancestors would have a thousand year ago. Be it at the Topkapu Palace, the Agha Sofia mosque or the general Sultan Ahmet area, one can only appreciate the millenia of history that perfectly preserved the various cultural and religious influences that make Istanbul such a unique city.
The “Tribute to Istanbul” timepiece Pays tribute to this incredible city that remains a must visit for any History buff. This limited edition watch, along with its packaging and usage of the red color, found in the Turkish flag, is an hommage to this historical metropolis. The very texture found on the walls of the ancient buildings is reproduced in the center of the dial, while the “Gates” to access the walled part of the city are reproduced on the watch’s bezel at 12 and 6 o’clock.
