Summertime and watches. Two very different topics that, for me, have always been intertwined. And not just because if you're a daily watch wearer, this is the season that you slowly develop a rather unfortunate tan line around your wrist. I always start itching to try a new timepiece as we approach summer. At first I didn't know why, so I sat down, pulled out my watch collection and reminisced.

Then it hit me. Summer was when I first started wearing a watch. I don't remember which summer—or how old I was—I was young enough to be excited about months of freedom and running around outside with my friends. But I was old enough to not have to tell my parents where I was going. My Dad got me a simple little Casio digital watch and presented it to me like handing me a key to a new world. “Keeping track of the time is your responsibility now,” he said. Now, when I was told I had to be back by 4:30 to get cleaned up for dinner, I had a tool to help me know how to make that happen.

I never took it off. Swimming, sleeping, camping or just playing in the backyard, that Casio encircled my scrawny wrist—the buckle latched all the way on the very last hole in the strap, I'm sure. Since then, my timepiece collection has grown up with me and gotten more stylish and sophisticated. But the idea remains the same. Even though summer is a time of vacation and taking it easy, timepieces just come in handy. Plus, there's something to be said for a cool looking watch adding a pop of style to an otherwise simple summer outfit. You might be wearing a T-shirt and shorts, but when you've got an impressive watch on your wrist, you feel a little more dressed up.

Of course, the season of outdoor adventures can be grueling for a timepiece. Which is why it's smart to strap on something that can withstand harsh UV rays, briny salt water and abrasive sand and dirt. Thankfully, there are plenty options that are as rugged as they are handsome. From legacy brands to more modern makers, you can find watches that make a statement on your wrist but won't won't cost much—that is, unless you want to invest in something really spectacular. After all, this is summertime ... a season dedicated to going wild.