Salming Watches unveiled The Salming 1148 in Canada on August 6 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The limited-edition mechanical chronograph celebrates the life and legacy of hockey icon, Börje Salming. Co-designed by Salming before his passing in 2022 and completed by his children in his honour, the watch is limited to 1,148 individually numbered pieces – one for each of the 1,148 NHL regular-season games he played.
The Salming 1148 fulfils a vision Salming began in 2018 with longtime friend and entrepreneur Mats Kullenberg. Starting with a blank sheet of paper, Salming was involved in every stage of the design process, insisting on uncompromising quality – from the Swiss movement and Swedish assembly to a timeless black dial.
The Canadian introduction follows the watch’s Swedish debut on April 17, Salming’s birthday, and brings the project to a country Salming considered his second home.
“There was never any question that Canada had to be part of The Salming 1148 story,” said Mats Kullenberg, CEO of Salming Watches and Börje Salming’s close friend. “Börje poured his heart into this project, and every detail reflects who he was, from its understated design to its craftsmanship. Bringing his vision to Canada is an incredibly proud milestone for all of us.”
The Salming 1148 incorporates several details inspired by Salming’s remarkable hockey career. Salming’s number 21 is the only numeral featured on the dial, the crown is textured like a hockey puck, and the chronograph second hand features a silhouette of the CN Tower.
Quality was central to Salming’s vision for The Salming 1148. Each watch is handcrafted in Stockholm and customized by the Scandinavian Watch Company, which has more than 40 years of watchmaking expertise. Award-winning Swedish design studio Superlab managed the project and completed the final design.
“It’s amazing to see the watch become a reality,” said Anders Salming, Börje’s eldest son. “It feels authentic and genuinely looks like something that belonged to him. That’s when you know the design is successful. When you look at it, you immediately think, ‘This is Dad.”
“What feels especially meaningful to me is that we were given the opportunity to complete something Dad started with Mats almost a decade ago,” said Börje’s son, Rasmus Salming. “When I look at the watch, I immediately think, ‘This is something he truly would have loved to wear.’ Elegant, understated, stylish and exclusive – just like Dad.”
As part of the Canadian launch, Salming Watches has partnered with the NHL Alumni Association, an organization devoted to bettering the lives of former NHL players and their families.
The first 100 watches – numbered 001 through 100 – have been reserved exclusively for NHL players, giving players the opportunity to wear the number that defined their own hockey careers.
Salming Watches will also support the NHL Alumni Association’s charitable initiatives by donating CAD $170 (SEK 1,148) from every watch sold to charitable causes through the association and its network.
Early access is live now, and The Salming 1148 will officially be available for purchase beginning Friday, August 21 – a fitting tribute to Börje’s iconic jersey number. To register for exclusive early access and request a numbered Salming 1148, visit salmingwatches.com/early-access/.