The color purple has a flinty little mollusk to thank for its expensive reputation. In the past, extracting dye from this sea creature was such a costly and time-consuming process, only royal purses could stretch to such extravagance. Technology has democratized the shade of sovereigns, but our view of the hue is that it’s still high-end. Design houses such as Marc Jacobs, Dior, and Victoria Beckham have been playing with purple for a couple of seasons, and now it’s the most sought-after shade of summer. When partnered with quality watchmaking, the result is a sophisticated statement that exudes power, with a playful undercurrent.

The Ritmo Mundo Persepolis Dual Time Swiss Quartz Model 204/3 Multi Gem watch ($11,000) has a 44mm round stainless steel orbital case. Set with diamonds and multicolored gemstones. The dial turns over to offer an alternate display. Omega’s Constellation Quartz 35mm watch ($4,400) sparkles with features such as diamond markers on the purple dial, and date indication at 6:00.The Octea Chrono ($900) from Swarovski features a 40mm stainless steel case with a clear crystal bezel. The violet sunray dial features chronograph sub dials and LumiNova indexes, and the purple rubber strap has six amethyst DTL crystals. (This article appeared recently in LA Confidential Magazine)