The time spent away from the van was a good break.  It provided us the chance to reboot a little bit.  Our return to Salt Lake City was a bit of a temperature shock — it was nearly 90 degrees at dinner time.  The van was stuffy, and it was hot enough…

We previously covered the origins of the dive watch in Part One, but, despite its beginnings, when exactly did the dive watch truly enter into the public consciousness, not only as a tool watch for divers, but as a lasting fashion accessory? The post…

If you’ve never heard of Giorgia Mondani, it’s my pleasure to introduce you. And if you do know the name, you’ll get to know the person a little better after reading this... Not unlike many kids, Giorgia grew up in a family business. But the differen…

The Dive Watch: Origins In diving, it used to be that having a reliable watch could be the difference between life and death. It was a device that could track how long you’d been underwater. It could help you calculate decompression stops. Plus, it k…

  It’s been a full week since I’ve been in the driver’s seat of my van.  I’ve also been two timezones away in the Adirondacks.  I’ve also been sleeping in real beds for the last 7 nights.  I can’t say that I miss the van bed, but I can say that…

  I’ll be continuing this week’s blog in Idaho.  When I left off last, we had just left the blazing hot temperatures of Riggins, which were remedied by a 6,000 foot climb on a minimally-maintained, thoroughly washboarded road to Heaven’s Gate. …

Returning to #vanlife after a quick stint in Los Angeles was a welcome shift back to the lifestyle I’ve grown more used to.  While I can’t say that I’m surprised, it was nice to see that I really don’t feel like I’m missing out on “city life.”  I def…

A little over three months after leaving Los Angeles and striking out on what we consider to be the adventure of a lifetime, we’ve returned to the city.  No, the epic #vanlife adventure isn’t over, but we’ve made our way back to the bustle of the big…

Jerry Kamhi is the CEO of Haberdash, a men's clothing store in Chicago, IL. Haberdash clothing gives a modern take on classic menswear. Crown & Caliber spoke with Kamhi, who told us about his interest in watches and about the most influential peo…

 The wildfire continues to burn in Glacier National Park, and the hot, dry, and windy weather continues to work against the fire crews fighting the blaze.  Although we didn’t get to spend a lot of time in the park before its most famous feature…

David Hamilton is the co-owner of Houston-based Hamilton Shirt Co. Hamilton Shirt Co. is one of the oldest custom shirt purveyors in the United States founded in 1883. At Hamilton Shirt Co., customers are given suggestions based on their style, needs…

Although we wanted to spend more time in Seattle, we had to make a quick haul east to Montana for a project that my production company was shooting outside of Glacier National Park. We loved Seattle — everyone was incredibly nice, the food and drink…

Social networks have changed the way relationships develop. Take Instagram for instance, where pictures and captions spark chemistry between otherwise total strangers. A simple follow, like, or comment are the ways people get acquainted with one anot…

If you’re reading this blog, I think it’s safe to say that you’ve spent your fair share of time on airplanes for pleasure and for work.  These days, airline travel doesn’t hold nearly the same appeal and status as it did in the 1950’s when people act…

My name is Ryan, and I might be the luckiest guy in the world.   Presumptuous, yes, but wait, there’s more.  I live and work in a van.  By choice.  I left Los Angeles, CA on May 1, 2015 and haven’t looked back since, except to check my blind spot whe…

The Rolex Daytona If there is a watch that defines Rolex as a brand, it would be the Rolex Daytona. Or, to call it by its full and proper name, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona. In the 1930’s, when Rolex was making itself known for produ…

Rolex is a brand that’s collected a lot of “first” distinctions over the years with its innovative watch models. One of these watches, originally designed in 1954 for Pan Am pilots flying on international trips, the Rolex GMT Master was the first wat…

For most modern-day watch wearers, a moon phase watch is probably not the most necessary of complications, but it’s certainly one of the coolest-looking. Rather than the hands-and-numbers standard seen in most timepieces, moon phase watches tend to h…

To own a Rolex watch is to own a status symbol. Associated with luxury and prestige, the Rolex watch’s high quality, tried-and-true design means that it holds its value well over time and makes an ideal investment piece. For example, the timeless des…

When discussing the various movement systems out there in the watch manufacturing world, there is overwhelming agreement that the Rolex watch movement is one of the best in terms of accuracy, reliability, and durability. This would explain why the co…