There was something fitting about unveiling The Salming 1148 inside the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Surrounded by the jerseys, trophies and memories that tell hockey’s story, family, friends and supporters gathered in Toronto Thursday evening to celebrate something that was never meant to be just another piece of memorabilia. Instead, the limited edition mechanical chronograph represents the completion of one of Börje Salming’s final personal projects, one that began nearly a decade ago and ultimately became a family effort after his passing in 2022.

For those in attendance, it quickly became clear that the evening was about far more than introducing a luxury watch to the Canadian market. It was about remembering a man whose influence stretched well beyond the rink and whose connection to Toronto remains as strong today as it was during his Hall of Fame career.

For Börje’s sons, Rasmus and Anders, returning to Toronto always carries special meaning.

Rasmus smiled as he reflected on standing inside the Hockey Hall of Fame, a place he had visited countless times growing up alongside his father.

“It means so much. It’s so cool. I’ve been here a lot with my dad. To be able to stand here… finishing something that he started… it’s hard to describe. It’s surreal and amazing at the same time.”

Toronto, he explained, was never just another city on the hockey map.

“It’s hard to explain if you don’t come here with our dad. There is something special about his legacy and all the people here. The combination of hockey people that live here together with that era… it’s super special.”

That sentiment echoed throughout the evening. Although Salming was born and raised in Sweden, Canada, and particularly Toronto, became his second home during a remarkable NHL career that forever changed perceptions of European hockey players. Long before international stars became commonplace, Salming earned respect through exceptional play, consistency and professionalism, helping pave the way for generations of players who would follow.

Yet as conversations unfolded during the launch, it became clear that the family hopes his legacy is remembered for more than history books and statistics.

“I hope they see that you can be an absolute superstar and also be a very down to earth guy and be nice to everyone that you meet.”

He paused before adding what may be the greatest compliment a family can receive.

“We never hear anything bad about our dad. I’m not saying that to brag. I’m just saying that’s the truth.”

An Idea Between Friends

The story behind The Salming 1148 actually began in 2018.

Longtime friend Mats Kullenberg and Salming shared an appreciation for fine watches, and what started as casual conversations eventually became an ambitious idea: create a watch entirely from scratch rather than simply licensing his name to an existing product.

Unlike many athlete branded collaborations, Salming wasn’t interested in approving sketches or lending his signature.

He wanted to build something.

“It was his project. He was really involved in the project. It wasn’t like putting your name on something. It was a project between friends.”

That distinction shaped every decision that followed.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper, the team spent years refining designs, working with manufacturers and obsessing over details large and small.

Then everything stopped.

The pandemic delayed progress, and after Salming became ill, Kullenberg admits he no longer had the motivation to continue.

“When Börje passed away, the whole project sort of died. I wasn’t very interested in pushing forward.”

It was his fiancée who suggested speaking with the Salming family before shelving years of work.

That conversation changed everything.

The brothers immediately recognized what their father had been trying to create and encouraged Kullenberg to continue.

“When Mats reached out to us, we felt right away that this was something we wanted to continue because it was something my dad had started.”

The family had no way of knowing how people would respond.

“We didn’t know if it was going to be a success, but we went all in.”

Designing Börje, Not Hockey

One of the most fascinating conversations I had came from the chat I had with Niklas Madsen (CEO, Superlab; design lead), who explained that the biggest challenge wasn’t creating a luxury timepiece.

It was resisting the temptation to make hockey merchandise.

“We did not want it to be like a Disney watch.”

Instead of filling the dial with hockey sticks, pucks and obvious references, the design team intentionally stripped ideas away.

“Let’s design a watch first. Then we add small details.”

The approach mirrored Salming’s own personality.

“He loved design. He loved Scandinavian design. He wanted a watch that he would want to wear every day.”

Over months and years, the team refined countless concepts, removing more than they added until only subtle references remained.

The goal, he said, was for owners to continue discovering details long after they first put it on.

“You’ll see new things after months… maybe years.”

That philosophy is reflected throughout the finished piece.

The number 21, Salming’s famous jersey number, is the only numeral on the dial. The crown is textured like a hockey puck. The chronograph seconds hand incorporates the silhouette of Toronto’s CN Tower.

Even the weight of the watch became an intentional design decision.

“It needed to have some weight to it. When you put it on, you need to feel something. It couldn’t be too light.”

Not because heavier is necessarily better, but because the watch needed to feel substantial enough to carry the story behind it.

A Father’s Style

Perhaps the most touching moments from my conversations came when both sons were asked what immediately reminded them of their father when they first saw the completed watch.

Neither pointed to the hidden hockey references.

Instead, both described something far more personal.

For Rasmus, it was the bracelet.

His father had given him a watch years earlier with a similar bracelet design, making it instantly familiar.

“The bracelet… that was for sure.”

Anders had a different reaction.

“It wasn’t the actual small details. It was the overall feeling of the watch.”

He paused before offering perhaps the strongest endorsement any designer could hope to hear.

“When I look at this watch, I think of my dad.”

He wasn’t talking about hockey.

He was remembering the man.

“The way he was with his clothes and his style… he had this movie star era about him.”

The watch, elegant without demanding attention, reminded him of exactly that.

Hidden Stories

One of the most interesting aspects of The Salming 1148 is that many of its most meaningful elements are nearly invisible.

Rather than overwhelming the design with symbolism, every reference invites a second look.

Kullenberg believes that restraint was essential.

“We didn’t want to make it too hockey. We wanted to make it nice, classy… small details make the difference.”

That same philosophy extended to manufacturing.

The watch uses a Swiss mechanical movement while every piece is assembled by hand in Stockholm, reflecting Salming’s desire for uncompromising quality from beginning to end.

Only 1,148 individually numbered watches will be produced, matching the exact number of NHL regular season games Salming played during his extraordinary career.

The first one hundred have been reserved for NHL players, allowing them to wear the number that defined their own careers.

Each sale will also support charitable initiatives through the NHL Alumni Association, extending the project’s impact beyond collectors.

Finishing What Dad Started

As the evening drew to a close, the conversation returned once again to family.

What would Börje think if he could see the finished project?

“I think he would be so happy.”

Travelling to Toronto had always been a family tradition.

“We stay at the same hotel. We do basically the same things every time we come here.”

For Rasmus, this launch felt like another chapter in that tradition.

Anders agreed.

“I think he’d be very proud.”

Not simply because of the watch itself, but because it brought together family, old friends, the hockey community and a charitable partnership supporting former players.

In many ways, the launch reflected the values that those closest to him described throughout the evening: humility, friendship, craftsmanship and authenticity.

The Salming 1148 tells time, but it also tells a quieter story.

Not through oversized logos or bold branding, but through thoughtful details that reveal themselves slowly, much like the man who inspired them.

Inside the Hockey Hall of Fame, surrounded by the history of the game he helped shape, it felt less like the debut of a new watch than the completion of one final promise between a father, his family and a lifelong friend.

Sometimes the most meaningful legacies are not measured in minutes or milestones.

Sometimes they are simply finished by the people who loved you most.