The acclaimed American blues-rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Josh Smith, known for his masterful blend of blues, jazz, and rock, recently made an unconventional request to his fanbase ahead of a performance in Geneva, Switzerland: to bring their watches to the show. This unique invitation stems from Smith’s burgeoning passion for horology, a fascination that has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Born on October 7th, 1979, in Middletown, Connecticut, Smith’s musical journey began at an exceptionally young age. He received his first guitar at three and started formal lessons at six, quickly gravitating towards the titans of blues: B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and T-Bone Walker. By the age of 12, he was already recognized as a blues prodigy, performing professionally and touring with the Rhino Cats for eight years. His impressive resume includes collaborations with music legends such as B.B. King himself, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and Mick Jagger.
Beyond his celebrated career as a performer, Smith has cultivated a prolific output of solo albums and established Flat V Studios in Los Angeles, where he has produced acclaimed artists like fellow guitarist Eric Gales. This dual role as performer and producer underscores his deep immersion in the music world, a dedication mirrored in his approach to his other significant interest: watches.
Smith’s engagement with timepieces is characterized by an open-minded curiosity, spanning both new and vintage pieces across a diverse range of brands. This eclectic appreciation mirrors his musical evolution, which began with the blues and expanded into jazz and rock. His passion is even etched onto his hands: a tattoo of bebop legend Charlie Parker adorns his left hand, while blues icon Stevie Ray Vaughan is depicted on his right.
The guitarist’s invitation to his Geneva audience to bring their watches was extended via his Instagram page, anticipating his performance at a festival hosted by the Blues Association de Genève (BAG). The author of this report, present at the event, seized the opportunity to engage with Smith, arriving early with a timepiece and a list of questions to explore the origins and depth of his watch enthusiasm.
The Ignition of a Horological Passion
Smith’s interest in watches, while seemingly a recent development, has roots in his family history. "The in-depth watch thing is kind of new for me – since COVID, basically," Smith explained. "When I was a kid, there were some cool watches around that my great-grandfather and my grandfather left to my dad, who then left them to me. They were, like, great American watches – Hamilton rail watches and a Waltham pocket watch."
Despite this early exposure, practical considerations influenced his interaction with these heirlooms. "I love them, but I was always uncomfortable playing guitar with the watch on my wrist, so I would take it off. I still do, yeah. I’m still trying to find the right watch I can wear all day and all night." This quest for a suitable daily wearer is compounded by decades of playing guitar without any wrist adornment. "It’s going to be hard, though, because I have been playing guitar for 35 years without wearing one. It will probably just feel weird, whereas Joe [Bonamassa] wears a Rolex all the time, and when he doesn’t have a heavy watch on his wrist, he feels uncomfortable. I’m not used to the weight, so I’m trying to reteach myself to play with one now."
The catalyst for his deep dive into horology was the global lockdown. "Anyway, to answer your question, I started going down the watch rabbit hole during COVID. I was on YouTube, and the videos that dragged me in were mostly about watch repair. I started watching guys restore watches and repair them."
Beyond Aesthetics: A Fascination with the Mechanics
Smith’s interest quickly transcended mere aesthetics, delving into the intricate mechanics and history of watchmaking. "Yeah, I really like the technical aspect of watches. It’s so fascinating to realize that this thing that this guy’s working on was built in 1945, and once he fixes it, it’ll run perfectly. You know, that’s amazing to me."
His approach to learning is thorough and all-encompassing. "I’m the kind of guy who, when I get into any subject, will go all the way. Then I want to learn everything about the history, who’s behind it, and how it works. With watches, it started with asking questions like: what’s the difference between a hand-winder and an automatic watch? What does the escapement do? What’s the frequency of the movement?"
This intellectual curiosity led him to explore the heritage of numerous brands. "I also went into the history of plenty of brands. Who was Louis-Abraham Breguet? What is all this stuff that he made? What are all the different complications he invented?" His travels have provided ample opportunity to indulge this passion. "I went deep into so many different brands, finding out what they’re famous for, what their most iconic watches are. I’m fortunate to travel so much that I can go to lots of cool stores and look at cool watches, and I just fell in love right away. I started realizing, like, I was never taking my phone out of my pocket to check the time anymore."
The First Acquisition: An Enicar Chronograph
Smith’s first significant watch purchase after embarking on his horological journey was a vintage Enicar chronograph. This marked the beginning of a particular fondness for the brand. "It was a vintage watch, an Enicar chronograph. I have a bunch of Enicar watches now because I really like that brand."
His discovery of Enicar was serendipitous, stemming from his research into watch brand histories. "I was going through brand history videos, and this video about Enicar came up. It was all about the Racine family, and they turned the name backward. But mostly, I started seeing these Sherpa Graph chronographs from the 1960s with Valjoux 72 movements inside."
The appeal of the Enicar Sherpa Graph lies in its value proposition and robust movement. "I looked them up and found they were way cheaper than comparable watches with the same movements, and they are just really nice." He expressed a slight regret about not wearing it to the Geneva interview, noting, "Maybe I should have worn my Sherpa Graph now. But I have it upstairs; I will show you later. It’s a great watch – one of my favorites."
His Enicar collection extends beyond the Sherpa Graph. "I also have an Enicar Sherpa Jet, a GMT." He also counts a LeCoultre Futurematic among his prized possessions, a notable piece for its innovative crownless design. "Oh, and I also own a LeCoultre Futurematic, a watch without a crown. It was for the American market, so there’s no ‘Jaeger’ on the dial."
The Quest for the Perfect Fit: Size, Bracelets, and Wrist Size
A significant consideration for Smith, particularly with vintage timepieces, is the fit on his relatively large wrists. "The Enicar Sherpa Graph is just a great watch for the money," he stated. "Yeah, they’re just cool watches. Look, I’m not a rich guy, and my enthusiasm for watches has far exceeded my budget. And the Enicar Sherpa Graph is just a great watch for the money. Also, it has a 40mm case, so it fits."
He elaborated on the challenges posed by smaller vintage watches. "I started buying these other vintage watches, and they would end up with my wife. She would wear them instead of me because they just didn’t look right on me. The thing is, I have really big hands and wrists. So the vintage stuff I bought looks really small on me. I think I have 20cm wrists, and I like bracelets. But some of these old bracelets can’t get past my hands."
Despite these challenges, Smith expresses a strong preference for bracelets over straps. "It can be challenging, but I do like bracelets more than straps. I don’t know why, but I just feel more comfortable wearing them. I’m also scared to drop a watch when trying on one with a strap and pin buckle."
Beyond the Mainstream: Unconventional Preferences
When discussing favorite brands and watches, Smith reveals a departure from mainstream popular choices. "Let me start by saying I’m not too crazy about Rolexes. I don’t feel them. Maybe the only watch I might consider is a vintage ‘Root Beer.’ I also don’t need a Nautilus or a Royal Oak, vintage or new; I don’t like those watches. There’s so much more out there. I have so many brands and watches I like that it’s hard to answer your question."
A Connection to Japanese Craftsmanship: Otsuka Lotec and Beyond
Smith’s appreciation for meticulous craftsmanship has led him to develop a strong affinity for Japanese watchmaking. His current wristwear, an Otsuka Lotec No.6, exemplifies this connection. "I have been following Otsuka Lotec for a few years, and I have a home in Japan. It’s my favorite place, and my wife and I go there a lot. Some places just register as comfortable and familiar, and Japan immediately felt like that. And I like Japanese watchmaking. Whether it’s watches, denim, or knives, the Japanese craftspeople do everything well. That’s the main thing I love about Japan."
He finds a personal resonance with the dedication and precision inherent in Japanese craftsmanship. "As a person, I felt a connection to them; their work resonates with me. Look, I’m kind of a serious guy. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t play around. I do what I do, and I try to do it the best I can. I’m obsessed with being the best musician I can be. The Otsuka Lotec No.6 is original, well made, and big enough to look good on my wrist."
His interest in independent Japanese watchmakers extends to others who share a similar ethos. "I would love to own a watch from independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka, but his creations are maybe a bit too small for my wrist. I also love Masa & Co. watches; they have the most beautiful hands. They’re made in a tiny workshop, and everything is done by hand, including the movements, but the hands are crazy. They are very intricate but not too ornate. They blew me away when I first saw them."
The Musician’s Metronome: Gaku Okada’s Tempo Rubato
A particularly intriguing piece in Smith’s collection, or rather, a piece that has captured his imagination, is the Tempo Rubato Metronome by Gaku Okada. This unique creation highlights the intersection of music and mechanics. "There’s also something interesting coming from Gaku Okada, a young watchmaker. I accidentally bumped my Otsuka Lotec against something and broke the crystal. When I went to their workshop, I met with Gaku Okada. He had just constructed the Tempo Rubato Metronome as a graduation piece for his watchmaking studies. It’s not a watch; it’s a 100% mechanical metronome, and the bezel is how you set the speed."
The collaboration between Okada and Otsuka Lotec promises an innovative timepiece that directly appeals to Smith’s musical sensibilities. "So now, he’s teaming up with Otsuka Lotec, and they’re making a version with time on top of the metronome. You can imagine why a musician like me likes a watch like that."
Parallels Between Guitars and Watches: Craftsmanship and Innovation
Smith draws a profound parallel between the worlds of guitar making and independent watchmaking, recognizing a shared spirit of craftsmanship and innovation. "I found a great parallel between independent watchmakers and guitar makers. Guys who come up with a new amp circuit in the guitar respect the tradition of what came before, just like modern-day watchmakers do. I like that about so many new guys making watches."
He admires how these artisans build upon historical foundations while forging their own path. "I love Breguet, but the new guys are trying something different – new escapements, a new kind of dial layout or hands or something – and I respect and admire that. They care deeply about tradition and then put their unique little twist on it. They do their thing and make it as good as they can. That is the same dedication I put into my guitar playing."
This dedication to mastery, whether in music or horology, is a common thread. "In a way, there’s a big comparison between the craft of the blues, where it all starts with three chords, and watchmaking, where it all starts with three hands. From that point, you can start improvising and adding things, whether it’s complications or more chords, more complex harmonies, and so on. There’s a lot of crossover. Lots of guitar players are into watches, and lots of watchmakers play guitar. I guess we’re kindred spirits." This sentiment encapsulates the shared passion for precision, artistry, and dedication that unites musicians and watch enthusiasts alike.
