Some watch purists may argue that "Rolex quartz movement" is a bit of an oxymoron. But even a staunchly traditional company like Rolex sometimes thinks out of the box, goes out on a limb, and manufactures products that may seem incongruous with its image, but manage to tick along just the same (excuse the pun).

Despite Rolex's solid commitment to mechanical movements, the company first started to dabble with electronic timekeeping in the early 1950s. It introduced its first quartz watch, the Quartz Date 5100 -- which shared the Beta 21 movement with other Swiss watchmakers -- in 1970. Only 1,000 of these watches were produced before the company began to develop its own quartz movement.

In 1977 Rolex launched the Oysterquartz line in the DateJust and Day-Date (also known as President) watches. Special models with bejeweled bracelets, dials and bezels were also produced.

With their solid Oyster cases and matching integral bracelets in gold or a combination of gold and stainless steel, the watches offered just the right blend of simplicity and dazzle, without going overboard in either direction. You could comfortably wear them for a dressy or casual occasion and not commit any major social faux-pas.

Unfortunately, Oysterquartz proved not to be as timeless as Rolex's other models, because the production of this line ceased in 2001. In total some 25,000 watches were manufactured in 24 years, making the Oysterquartz one of the rarest watches ever produced, and thus all the more valuable to collectors.

When Rolex first launched this model in 1977, it described it as a mix of "functional elegance and quality," but did specify that one little defect cannot be ruled out: a possible variation of one minute per year.

Maybe that is why, in the end, the Oysterquartz missed its boat.

Is it worth your while to search for the Oysterquartz? If you are a passionate collector or a vintage watch enthusiast, then why not. But if you just like the look of this model and don't care about its history, the DateJust or Day-Date (President) might fit the bill - and your wrist.

Keep in mind that, as is the case with all discontinued models, it will be increasingly difficult to find jewelers with either the expertise or the parts to repair the Oysterquartz in the years to come. This watch is best appreciated in your collection, rather than on your wrist.