The story of a fighter pilot who became a child watchmaker
Torekovs is founded and owned by Leif Göransson, an entrepreneur and pilot with roots from Norrland and with a heart in Skåne
year 1986
Torekovs, Skåne
The first time Leif came to Skåne was 1986, as he started his training to become a fighter pilot in the Swedish Airforce.
Over the years to come he made thousands of landings where the landing circuit passed over the beautiful fishing village of Torekov. He was always struck by the beauty of the landscape that Torekov and Bjärehalvön had to offer. He says: "It is absolutely beautiful no matter the season. Sparkling white in the winter, shining green in the spring, stunningly yellow in early summer, and warm red and gold in the fall". Skåne caught his heart, and he has not left the region since.
YEAR 2004
The love that inspired
Leif met the love of his life, Susanne, in 2004. She lived in Umeå in Northern Sweden at the time. He confesses that he thought it would be almost impossible for him to make her leave Umeå and says: "I knew I needed to be smart to impress her, so I decided to show her the most beautiful places I knew in Skåne. I took her to Torekov and Bjärehalvön".
He continues; "During one of our strolls along the coastline a great sea eagle swept over our heads. The mighty impression is evident, and I popped the question. “That must be a sign, even the birds want you to move down here to me". Susanne laughed and said: "Yes Leif, I will move to Skåne." (The memory of that moment and the eagle together with Leif wearing the pilot’s wings on his chest for more than 35 years is in fact the inspiration for the Torekovs logotype)
At that time Leif had left the Airforce to become a helicopter pilot flying Search and Rescue helicopter at one of their five bases in Sweden.
Many years later
The birth of their son became the starting shot of Torekovs
Many years later when their son Bernhard was about to turn 9 years, Leif and Susanne came up with the idea of getting him a really nice watch. They wanted not only to find a watch that could teach Bernhard to keep track of time, but also make him proud of being introduced to the world of growing up. They wanted it to be his first jewel, an unforgettable memory. They got frustrated when they learned that there was no such watch on the market.
The more Leif thought about the lack of nice watches for children the more frustrated he got.
"Why are there no exclusive and pedagogic watches for kids?" He walked around saying "the schools spend years to teach children how to read a watch, but children have no real watches to wear
So, he decided to design and produce one. The idea of Torekovs, an exclusive pedagogic watch for children, was born.
“The hope is that more children will feel proud of the clock and time and that the clock will be a part of growing up. It would be fantastic to be able to contribute to fond memories, as well as pedagogy and that you might teach the children not to always use a mobile phone to keep time. I do not think it's useful.
Time is the most precious thing we have and deserves to be taken advantage of by being packaged exclusively, carried with pride and preserved as a fine memory "
Leif göransson, founder
