We’ve had quite the watch obsession this summer as you may have noticed here and here. 

I haven’t actually worn one since sometime in the late 90s, but I’ve been going on and on about starting again for months in the form of one of these new Fall/Winter Swatch watches we just got images of.

I must, for a moment, veer vaguely off-topic to note that my friend’s aunt June (a fabulous lady in Beverly Hills whose life I liken to the fictional one Rose lived in Titanic after losing Jack—all those adventures you see in the photos) has what is very likely the largest private collections of Swatch watches in the country. No joke. She basically has a mini-museum exhibition in her house. And it’s pretty damn sweet, like a walk down memory lane, especially for an 80s kid. I wish it was open to the public.

I’m thinking a couple of these new models will end up both on my wrist and in Bev Hills with Aunt June. At the moment, I’m a bit partial to the NYC one pictured above. But I’m also digging the chainlink version, perhaps for slightly dressier occasions.

So I went on an epic search this weekend for what Britt deemed the “Purple Power Ranger Watch.”

It’s actually called the Time Teller and is made by Nixon, and it’s kind of amazing.

It would look cool on its own, but I have different plans for my new purple friend. I have a chunky gold watch now (which you can see in some of the DIY shots) and now I’m going to layer them. Ms. Lanphear does it expertly with her sick bracelet collection, and I’ve been dying to try it with watches.

If you don’t love purple as much as I do, the watch also comes in multicolored versions, yellow, blue, two pinks, and black.

At $55, this is the perfect trial/error watch. Solo or layered, I am enamored!

—MELISSA ELLIOTT

Do you remember all your Swatch watches as fondly as we do?

Well, they’re still around. And while they may no longer be covered in tulips or Batman designs, these new ones are still pretty dope.

We’ve been looking around at watch options, as we’re sick of having to sort through our bags to find our phones when we want to know what time it is.

The solution is simple but we’ve been putting off the purchase. Now Swatch has us ready to buy.

We like that there’s some heft to these, not like that dainty Coach watch with the skinny strap we used to wear years ago. It comes in four colors, all with a nature spin: blue for the sea, light brown for earth, emerald for greenery, and red for sunset.

So expect to see something new and colorful on our wrists this summer. And if we can dig up our old ones at mom and dad’s house, an old school neon version with a Swatch guard too.

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

Natalie: Have you noticed all the press watches are getting lately? I feel like I’ve seen at least three or four round-ups in the past month alone.

Brett: So..?

Natalie: But who still wears a watch? I mean, isn’t that what cell phones are for?

Brett: I wear my watch every day!

Britt: Well, I used to always wear my dad’s watch, but lately I forget to put it on in the morning.

Natalie: Because you can just check the time on your cell, right?

Britt: Right. And I’m always late anyway.

Brett: But watches are a thing. They say something about the owner, and they’re necessary.

Natalie and Britt: But they’re not.

Brett: Well yeah, but there’s something amazing about pulling up your shirt sleeve and checking your time on your watch. I mean, if someone walks up to you on the street and asks for the time [Editor’s note: Natalie swears no one ever asks her for the time, Britt and Brett say “all the time.”], it’s so much cooler to look at your watch instead of your cell phone.

Britt: But I think men should wear watches.

Natalie: But why? Why men and not women? We all have phones.

Brett: (Cuts off Britt) Because watches are to men what handbags are to women.

We all know men’s accessories can be kind of dull, especially when it comes to watches. So when there’s something new rather than just a stainless steel or brown leather band, I take note.

The neon for men trend that began on the Spring 08 Burberry/Y-3/Moschino runways is now showing up in timepiece form.

Case in point: the bright blue Fred Flare, at left, and Burberry’s new Antarctic collection with three retina-searing color options. Even Hermès (sort of) jumped on the bandwagon by using their bright orange on their Clipper Chrono Diver, which will set you back $3,975.

The thing about a good watch is that it works with every outfit, from a tuxedo to a linen blazer to bermudas. Trouble is, they can get pretty pricey, so girls should be very happy that they can get in on the neon look with just $10 nail polish.

—KYLE HAYES

We know that ever since the cell phone, watches are kind of obsolete. But we think you’ll find this silver locket version too cute to pass up.

It has the look of a necklace perfect for layering with thinner strands and vintage dresses, but it’s also utilitarian, which is a pretty cool mix.

Think of it as what Flava Flav would wear if he was a sentimental girl.

And if you find yourself in a boring situation, you could pretend to play with your locket, but then sneak a peak at the time when the right moment strikes.

In any case, for only $22, you might just want to keep it around for the next time your phone battery dies.

—ALISON COOL