Nodus Canyon by Matt Farah

In the sphere of collaborative timepieces, a partnership often succeeds when it stems from a place of genuine passion and a shared vision. The fusion of a microbrand's agility and a well-known enthusiast's specific desires can create something truly compelling. Such is the case with the Nodus Canyon, a watch born from the synergy between Los Angeles-based Nodus Watches and Matt Farah, the prominent automotive journalist and founder of The Smoking Tire. This project was not merely a branding exercise; it was an endeavor to build a watch from the ground up, tailored to the unique demands and aesthetic sensibilities of a man who spends his life behind the wheel, navigating the very roads that gave the watch its name. The latest iteration, the Canyon Forest Green, continues this legacy, offering a new aesthetic interpretation of an already established and sought-after design.



Nodus, whose name derives from the Latin word for an intersection of pathways, has carved a distinct niche for itself since its establishment in 2017. Operating out of Los Angeles, the company was founded on a commitment to producing purpose-built wristwatches. This philosophy translates into a rigorous focus on durability, functionality, and thoughtful design. Nodus is not a company that chases fleeting trends; instead, it invests its resources in research and the implementation of cutting-edge technical solutions to create timepieces that are meant to be worn and used. Their process is a modern reflection of global artisanship, utilizing a worldwide supply chain for components that all converge on their LA workshop. It is here that the final, critical steps of assembly, in-house regulation, and stringent testing occur, ensuring every watch that leaves their facility meets their high standards of performance and reliability.



The collaborator on this project, Matt Farah, is a figure deeply embedded in the fabric of modern car culture. As a career automotive journalist, he has reviewed an astonishing number of vehicles, his insights and unfiltered opinions earning him a massive following through his platform, The Smoking Tire. His experience is not just academic; he has worked in nearly every facet of the automotive world, from dealerships to car washes. This extensive background has cultivated a discerning eye for design, engineering, and the intangible qualities that make a machine, whether it's a car or a watch, truly great. An avid watch collector himself, Farah approached this collaboration not as a celebrity endorser, but as an informed enthusiast with a clear and concise vision for what his ideal everyday watch should be.



The genesis of the Canyon watch was rooted in Farah’s desire for a "perfect everyday sports watch." His criteria were specific: vibrant color, unwavering reliability from a Swiss movement, and exceptional comfort, highlighted by a dramatically tapered bracelet. He envisioned a watch that could serve as a steadfast companion on his spirited drives through the scenic and demanding canyon roads of Los Angeles, the backdrop for so much of his work. He brought this concept to the Nodus Design Lab, where the brand’s manufacturing expertise and design acumen became the crucible in which his vision was forged into a tangible, wearable piece of hardware. The result was a watch that captured the essence of driving enjoyment without resorting to simplistic or overt automotive imagery.



A core tenet of the Canyon's design philosophy is its subtle integration of automotive themes. The watch purposefully eschews the common pitfalls of car-inspired timepieces, such as dials that mimic speedometers or bezels shaped like brake rotors. Instead, the references are nuanced, almost esoteric, intended as quiet acknowledgments for those who share a similar passion for automotive engineering and design. This approach allows the watch to possess a broader appeal; to the uninitiated, it is simply a handsome and robustly specified sports watch. For fellow enthusiasts, however, discovering these details—like the unit of measurement for water resistance or the design of the hands—adds a layer of depth and appreciation for the thought invested in its creation.



Visually, the Nodus Canyon Forest Green makes an immediate and striking impression, centered around its captivating dial. The color is inspired by the verdant, tree-lined stretches of the Angeles Crest Highway. Achieving this deep, lush green is no simple task; it requires a painstaking enameling process, which gives the dial a liquidly glossy and incredibly rich finish. This is further enhanced by a fumé effect, a signature of the Canyon series, where the color darkens towards the outer edge of the dial. This gradient adds a significant sense of depth and visual intrigue, drawing the eye inward. The choice of warm gold tones for the hands and applied indices provides a perfect, complementary contrast against the cool green, elevating the overall aesthetic.



Legibility and dimensionality are paramount on the Canyon's dial. Nodus employs large, three-dimensional indices that are meticulously applied to the enamel surface. This two-layer construction creates a distinct sense of depth, making the markers appear to float above the green base. Each index is generously filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova®, ensuring that the watch remains perfectly readable in low-light conditions. This focus on clarity is a practical consideration that aligns with the watch's purpose as a "daily driver."



The handset of the Canyon is another area where subtle automotive inspiration meets high-quality finishing. The hour and minute hands are not simple, flat pieces of metal. Instead, they feature three distinct surfaces: a finely brushed flat top flanked by two highly polished, angled facets. This multi-faceted design is evocative of the complex bodywork and aerodynamic surfaces found on performance cars, catching the light in dynamic ways as the wrist moves. The long, slender seconds hand is a direct nod to the needles found on classic analog tachometers, providing a smooth sweep across the glossy dial. This combination of intricate geometry and contrasting finishes demonstrates Nodus's technical skill and attention to detail.



The case of the Canyon serves as a robust yet refined housing for the intricate dial and movement within. It is machined from 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, a material chosen for its high corrosion resistance and durability. The dimensions are thoughtfully considered for modern wearability, measuring 41mm in case width, a relatively slim 11.50mm in thickness, and a compact 47mm from lug-to-lug. These proportions allow the watch to have a substantial presence on the wrist without feeling overly bulky, making it suitable for a wide range of wrist sizes and daily activities. The 20mm lug width provides a balanced stance and allows for easy strap changes.



A key feature contributing to the Canyon's 200-meter water resistance rating is its screw-down crown. This is a practical and essential element for any watch intended for versatile, everyday use, protecting the movement from dust and moisture ingress. Nodus adds a unique touch of character to this functional component with a bronze PVD inlay. This small detail provides a warm, contrasting accent against the cool steel of the case, subtly tying in with the gold hardware of the dial and adding a premium feel to a critical point of interaction for the user. The fixed steel bezel is smooth and uncluttered, reinforcing the watch's identity as a field or sports watch rather than a diver, focusing the visual attention squarely on the dial.



Protecting the dial is a flat sapphire crystal. The choice of sapphire is deliberate, as it is one of the hardest materials on earth, making the crystal exceptionally resistant to scratches from daily wear. To ensure maximum clarity and reduce distracting reflections, Nodus applies a blue anti-reflective coating to the underside of the crystal. Placing the coating on the interior surface prevents it from being scratched off, a practical consideration that ensures its effectiveness for the life of the watch.



One of the most clever automotive nods is found in the water resistance rating marked on the caseback. Instead of the conventional "200 meters" or "20 ATM," the Canyon's depth rating is denoted as "20 BAR." While this is technically equivalent, the choice of "bar" as the unit of measurement is a direct reference to the unit used for measuring turbo boost or oil pressure in high-performance engines. It is a detail that will likely go unnoticed by the average person but serves as a knowing wink to car enthusiasts like Farah.



The commitment to legibility extends into the night. The Canyon is treated with Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9 Grade A. This specific compound is prized in modern watchmaking for several reasons. In daylight, it appears as a crisp, pure white, complementing the dial's design without introducing an unwanted color. When the lights go down, it emits a powerful and lasting blue-green glow. The "Grade A" designation signifies that it is the highest quality variant of this lume, offering the best possible performance in terms of brightness and duration, ensuring time can be read at a glance in any lighting condition.



Comfort and convenience are central to the Canyon's design, and nowhere is this more evident than in its bracelet and clasp system. The stainless steel bracelet features a significant taper, narrowing from 20mm at the watch case to a sleek 16mm at the clasp. This pronounced taper is a feature often found on vintage watches and is highly regarded for its ergonomic benefits, allowing the bracelet to conform more naturally to the wrist for superior all-day comfort. The inclusion of quick-release springbars at the lugs is a modern convenience that allows the owner to easily swap the bracelet for a strap without the need for special tools.



The true innovation, however, lies in the proprietary NodeX™ Clasp. Housed within a slim 16mm enclosure, the NodeX™ module is an on-the-fly micro-adjustment system. With a simple push of a button, the wearer can extend or retract the bracelet length across four locking positions. This functionality is incredibly practical, allowing for a perfect fit to be maintained throughout the day as one's wrist naturally expands and contracts due to changes in temperature and activity. It is a premium feature that addresses a common point of frustration for bracelet wearers, demonstrating Nodus's focus on user-centric design.



At the heart of the Canyon beats the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement. The choice of this caliber is a significant statement of quality. Manufactured in the famed watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, La Joux-Perret is a well-respected movement maker known for producing reliable and high-performance calibers used in many premium watch brands. The G101 is a robust, modern movement that offers specifications that surpass many of its more common counterparts.



This Swiss-made engine features 24 jewels and provides an impressive power reserve of 68 hours. This extended running time is a major practical advantage. It means the owner can take the watch off on a Friday evening and put it back on Monday morning to find it still ticking accurately, without the need to reset the time. Nodus takes the extra step of regulating each G101 movement in their Los Angeles workshop to an accuracy of approximately +/-8 seconds per day, a specification that speaks to their commitment to delivering a precisely tuned timepiece.



The caseback of the Canyon is a canvas for one of the most personal and unique design elements of the watch. In the center is a beautifully executed engraving that is a topographical representation of the San Gabriel Mountains. Etched into the steel is the specific outline of Matt Farah's favorite driving loop: the Angeles Crest Highway and Big Tujunga Canyon Road. This is not just a generic mountain graphic; it is a map of the very place that inspired the watch's existence. The name of Farah's channel, "THE SMOKING TIRE," and the model name, "CANYON," are proudly displayed, solidifying the connection and making the caseback a point of discovery in its own right.



The collaborative journey of the Canyon has been a successful one from its inception. The very first iteration of the watch, which featured a mint green dial, was launched as a limited run of 100 pieces and sold out almost instantly to subscribers of The Smoking Tire's Patreon. This immediate success validated the design concept and established the Canyon as a highly desirable piece among both watch and car enthusiasts. The new Forest Green model represents the fourth iteration in the series, continuing the tradition of offering a compelling and thoughtfully executed product to a passionate community.



The Nodus Canyon by Matt Farah in Forest Green is offered as an exclusive and limited edition. With a price of $1,199.00, it represents a strong value proposition given its premium Swiss movement, high-quality materials, and the level of detail in its design and finishing. Each watch is individually numbered, and the production is strictly limited to just 100 pieces for the entire global market. This scarcity ensures that the watch will remain a unique item, a special piece for the few who are able to acquire it, and a testament to a successful partnership between a dedicated watch brand and a true enthusiast.



Case: 316L surgical-grade stainless steel; 41mm width, 11.50mm thickness, 47mm lug-to-lug, 20mm lug width; Screw-down crown with bronze PVD inlay; Flat sapphire crystal with underside anti-reflective coating; 200 meters (20 BAR) water resistance.

Movement: Manufacture La Joux-Perret G101; Swiss automatic caliber; 68-hour power reserve; 24 jewels; Regulated by Nodus to +/- 8 seconds per day.

Dial: Forest Green enamel with a fumé gradient effect; Gold hands and applied 3D indices; Lumed with Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9 Grade A.

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet tapering from 20mm to 16mm; Proprietary NodeX™ clasp with on-the-fly adjustment; Quick-release springbars.

Price: $1,199.00

Notes: A collaboration with automotive journalist Matt Farah, limited to 100 numbered pieces. Features subtle automotive design cues and a custom caseback engraved with a map of Angeles Crest canyon roads. Assembled and tested in Los Angeles, CA.