It was calculated that the rings were probably much younger than previously thought, merely from an eye-on perspective. They look new, therefore they probably are new.

Sounds a little flaky on the face of it, but, with a little more data, this does appear to be the case. Older ring systems would be dirtier (i.e., would have collected more junk over the eons), but the rings of Saturn are bright and shiny, denoting an icy makeup, rather than that of dingy rocks.

There was a NOVA episode on PBS a few days ago entitled "Resolution on Saturn," which first aired in 1981 (a very enjoyable show). The speculation there was that the rings were approx. as old as the Chixilub Crater in Yucatan.

However...

According to J. N. Cuzzi’s (NASA Ames) & P. R. Estrada’s (Cornell University) paper, “Research in Planetary Science”:
“Using best estimates of parameter values, we estimate the "exposure age" of Saturn's rings to extrinsic meteoroid flux to be on the order of 100 million years. This geologically young "age" of major structural features is compatible with timescales estimated independently based on the evolution of ring structure due to ballistic transport, and also with other "short timescales" estimated on the grounds of gravitational torques. However, uncertainty in the flux of interplanetary debris, as well as other parameters, preclude us from ruling out a ring age as old as the solar system at this time.”

Dan