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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16610LV Submariner}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16610LV Submariner}}
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit' — Green Bezel, 2003–2010 | BezelBase
|title=Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit', Green Bezel, 2003–2010 | Rolexopedia
|description=The 16610LV is the Kermit. That is what collectors call it, and the name has stuck firmly enough that "Kermit" appears in major auction house literature…
|description=The Rolex Submariner 16610LV is the 2003–2010 steel anniversary reference with a green aluminum bezel, black Maxi dial, and caliber 3135.
|keywords=Rolex, 16610LV, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|keywords=Rolex, 16610LV, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref 16610LV hero.jpg
|image=Ref 16610LV hero.webp
|image_alt=Kermit, green anniversary bezel
|image_alt=Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit in steel with green anniversary bezel and full Oyster bracelet
|type=Article
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:12:53Z
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:12:53Z
|modified_time=2026-07-18T12:39:36Z
|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:09:27Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}
}}


<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] -> '''16610LV'''</small>
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] › '''16610LV'''</small>


The 16610LV is the Kermit, a nickname so entrenched that major auction houses use it alongside the reference number. Rolex released it at BaselWorld 2003 for the 50th anniversary of the Submariner and ran it until 2010, when the ceramic-bezel 116610LV took over. The LV stands for Lunette Verte, French for green bezel.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 16610LV hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit' in steel with green anniversary bezel, black Maxi dial, and full Oyster bracelet, shown with its box and papers|Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit' with box and papers, steel case, green anniversary bezel, black Maxi dial, full Oyster bracelet.]]
</div>


Black aluminum bezel inserts had defined the Submariner line for decades. The green insert broke that continuity as a deliberate anniversary statement, and the bezel is what the Kermit is remembered for.
The 16610LV is the steel Submariner Date reference introduced in 2003 for the line's 50th anniversary. It ran until 2010, when the ceramic-bezel 116610LV replaced it. The watch uses a green anodized-aluminum bezel insert, a black Maxi dial, and caliber 3135. "Kermit" is a collector nickname; LV refers to *lunette verte*, French for green bezel.


<span id="core-facts"></span>
<span id="core-facts"></span>


[[File:Ref 16610LV hero.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Kermit, green anniversary bezel|Kermit, green anniversary bezel]]


== Core facts ==
==Core facts==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
|-
! detail
! detail
Line 52: Line 53:
|-
|-
| crystal
| crystal
| sapphire with Cyclops, LEC present from introduction
| sapphire with Cyclops; laser-etched coronet on documented early examples
|-
|-
| water resistance
| water resistance
Line 61: Line 62:
|-
|-
| bezel
| bezel
| unidirectional 60-click, green anodized aluminum insert
| unidirectional 120-click, green anodized-aluminum insert
|-
|-
| dial
| dial
Line 72: Line 73:
| Oyster ref.93250, solid end links (SEL), Oysterlock clasp
| Oyster ref.93250, solid end links (SEL), Oysterlock clasp
|-
|-
| first delivery serials
| early examples
| Y serial (2001–2002 range); also early F serials (Oct–Dec 2003)
| Y- and early F-serial cases are documented; serial and delivery dates do not always coincide
|-
|-
| successor
| successor
Line 80: Line 81:


<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line-and-why-it-matters"></span>
<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line-and-why-it-matters"></span>
== Where it sits in the line and why it matters ==
== Where it sits in the line ==


The 16610LV is a platform variant of the 16610 rather than a separate design. Case, movement, crystal, crown, and bracelet are identical across the two. The external differences are the green aluminum bezel insert and a Maxi dial with enlarged hour indices and slightly wider hands. Those two changes carry the entire collecting story.
The 16610LV shares the 16610 platform, including its case, caliber 3135, sapphire crystal, crown, and Oyster bracelet. Its identifying factory changes are the green aluminum bezel insert and the black Maxi dial with larger markers and hands.


The green bezel Submariner lineage runs:
The later [[Reference:116610LV|116610LV]] uses a green ceramic bezel and green dial, while the 126610LV uses a green ceramic bezel and black dial. The 16610LV is the aluminum-bezel member of that later green-bezel sequence. An insert can be replaced, so the dial, case, movement, serial, and delivery records still need to agree.


* [[Reference:16610LV|16610LV]] Kermit (2003–2010): green aluminum bezel, black dial
The Field Manual and other collector references describe the 16610LV as the first Submariner with the Maxi dial. Rolex later used that dial format on the 116610 generation.
* [[Reference:116610LV|116610LV]] Hulk (2010–2020): green ceramic bezel, green dial
* 126610LV Starbucks (2020–present): green ceramic bezel, black dial
 
The Kermit is the founding member of that run and the only one built on an aluminum bezel. That aluminum-only status is also what gives the Kermit its distinct authentication problem: a 16610 with an aftermarket green insert can pass for a Kermit in ways a steel 16610 never could for a 116610LV.
 
Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' records the 16610LV as the first Submariner with enlarged lume indices. The Maxi dial format later became standard on the 116610LN and every Submariner reference after it. The Kermit is the original application.


<span id="production-outline"></span>
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==
== Production outline ==
The 16610LV's broad production window is clear, but the detailed dial and bezel sequence comes from collector classifications and surviving examples rather than a Rolex-published parts chart. Serial and delivery dates overlap, and service parts can change an individual watch.


<span id="first-delivery-and-early-serials"></span>
<span id="first-delivery-and-early-serials"></span>
=== First delivery and early serials ===
=== First delivery and early serials ===


The 16610LV was introduced at BaselWorld 2003, with first deliveries in autumn 2003. White documents that the first examples carried Y-serial numbers. Y serials correspond to the 2001 to 2002 band in the Rolex sequential serial system; those movements were produced earlier and held for the anniversary release. Additional first-delivery examples carried early F serials from October to December 2003 as the watch moved into regular retail.
Rolex presented the reference at BaselWorld 2003 and delivered the first watches later that year. Y-serial and early F-serial cases are both documented among early deliveries. A case serial dates the case's production period; it does not by itself establish the retail date or prove that every component is original.
 
Y-serial Kermits look anomalous only against an assumption that case production and retail sale happened in the same year. Rolex did not work that way; a 2003-sold watch with a Y-serial case is normal.
 
Collectors specifically seek Y-serial Kermits as the earliest production examples of the reference and the first green-bezel Submariners ever delivered. An F-serial Kermit from the same autumn 2003 delivery window also counts as an early example and is priced accordingly.


<span id="no-drilled-lug-holes"></span>
<span id="no-drilled-lug-holes"></span>
=== No drilled lug holes ===
=== No drilled lug holes ===


The 16610LV arrived without drilled lug holes; Rolex had removed lug holes from the standard 16610 around the same time. No standard production 16610LV exists with drilled lug holes. Prototype pieces with drilled lugs were given to Rolex executives and are not production watches. Drilled lug holes on a 16610LV are either a rare executive prototype or a sign of case fraud.
Production 16610LV cases are found with closed lugs. A purported drilled-lug prototype or executive example needs specific provenance; a drilled-lug case without that evidence should be treated as a case or component mismatch until examined.


<span id="bezel-variants"></span>
<span id="bezel-variants"></span>
=== Bezel variants and color evolution ===
=== Bezel variants and color ===
 
Two changes track the bezel across the run. The first is typographic: the Flat Four insert of the early years gives way to the Pointed Four from about mid-2005, and the Flat-versus-Pointed split is still the quickest way to sort early from later examples. It pairs with the dial-mark progression noted below — Flat Four runs with MK I through MK III, Pointed Four with MK IV onward.


The second change is color. The green aluminum insert was not a single uniform shade across the seven-year run, and Rolex Forum collectors have documented a progressive evolution:
Collectors distinguish early "Flat Four" and later "Pointed Four" numerals at the 40 mark. The change is usually placed around the middle of the run, but published charts differ on the serial boundaries. Green shades also vary with production, fading, lighting, and replacement; shade alone does not date or authenticate an insert.
 
* Y-serial (~2003 delivery): bright lime green with a metallic finish
* F-serial (~2004–2005): pure green metallic
* D-serial (~2005–2006): lighter lime tone
* Z-serial (~2006–2007): lighter green
* M-serial (~2007–2008): deepest green, non-metallic finish
 
The overall trajectory moved from a bright, metallic lime green on the earliest examples to a deeper, flatter green on late production. Two original, unfaded Kermit bezels from different production years may look noticeably different, a point that matters both for authentication and for understanding why bezel appearance varies across genuine examples.


<span id="dial-variants-seven-marks-mk-i-through-mk-vii"></span>
<span id="dial-variants-seven-marks-mk-i-through-mk-vii"></span>
=== Dial variants: seven marks (MK I through MK VII) ===
=== Dial variants ===


Rolex Forum research, particularly the classification work by JBP (VRF) and Mondani, identifies seven distinct dial marks across the 16610LV production run. The identification points are subtle: the shape of the "O" in ROLEX (oval versus round), the positioning of the "R" in "Oyster" relative to the "R" in "Rolex," the number of tick marks spanned by "SWISS MADE" at 6 o'clock, and the presence or absence of rehaut engraving.
Collector references group 16610LV dials into several marks, often labelled MK I through MK VII. The systems do not use one consistent definition: some combine dial and bezel, while others classify dial printing alone. Differences discussed include the shape of the O in ROLEX, the placement of the R in Oyster, the span of SWISS MADE across the minute marks, and the presence of an engraved rehaut. These details are useful only when compared with a high-resolution known example and the rest of the watch.


JBP (VRF) and Mondani use different classification systems. JBP combines dial and bezel variants into a single numbering scheme (a "Mark" in JBP's system may refer to a dial-and-bezel combination). Mondani classifies dials only. The summary below follows the combined approach, noting bezel type where it is part of the Mark definition.
The final marks are associated with the later engraved rehaut, but neither a mark label nor a serial range is a substitute for examining the dial, insert, case, movement, and service history together.
 
* MK I: Oval "O" in ROLEX. "SWISS MADE" at 6 o'clock spans about 5 tick marks. Flat Four bezel. Serials about Y96xxxx to F47xxxx (~September 2003 to June 2005). The earliest production configuration.
* MK II: Transitional. Variations in "O" shape and "R" positioning distinguish it from MK I. Still paired with Flat Four bezel. Limited serial window.
* MK III: Further transitional variation. Subtle differences in letterforms from MK II. Still Flat Four bezel era.
* MK IV: Oval "O" in ROLEX. The "R" in "Oyster" sits directly under the right foot of the "R" in "Rolex." "SWISS MADE" spans about 3 tick marks. Pointed Four bezel. Appears from about July 2005 onward.
* MK V: Round "O" in ROLEX (a visible change from the earlier oval). Variations in "R" positioning and minute marker details distinguish it from MK IV.
* MK VI: Round "O." Further variation in "R" positioning and marker details from MK V.
* MK VII (final): Round "O" in ROLEX. Serial number engraved on the inner rehaut, the defining feature that separates MK VII from all earlier marks. Appears from about August 2008 onward and runs through end of production.
 
The progression from MK I through MK VII tracks the full production run. Early marks (MK I especially) carry the strongest collector premiums. MK VII, with its rehaut engraving, is the easiest to identify and represents the final production specification.
 
A full taxonomy requires side-by-side comparison of dial printing under magnification. Forum threads with high-resolution macro photography are the primary reference for these distinctions. Casual identification is reliable only for MK I (Flat Four bezel, oval O, wide SWISS MADE) and MK VII (rehaut engraving). The intermediate marks require experienced eyes.


<span id="franken-warning"></span>
<span id="franken-warning"></span>
=== "Franken" warning ===
=== Variant and service-part checks ===


The secondary market for the 16610LV carries a real Franken-watch risk. The many dial and bezel generations make it easy to build a plausible-looking but wrong watch, so the dial, bezel, and serial all have to agree before the buyer pays a variant premium.
The reference has many documented dial and bezel combinations, and replacement parts circulate. A plausible-looking watch can contain a later dial, a service insert, or a case and movement from different dates. Record each component separately instead of treating a mark name as proof of originality.


<span id="authentication-bezel-swap-fraud"></span>
<span id="authentication-bezel-swap-fraud"></span>
== Authentication — bezel swap fraud ==
== Authentication and bezel swaps ==


The green aluminum insert from a 16610LV fits a standard 16610 case. A 16610 fitted with an aftermarket green insert can be passed off as a Kermit at the Kermit premium, and the swap is one of the most common frauds in the modern Submariner market. The countermeasure is simple but has to be applied consistently.
A green insert alone does not establish that a watch is a 16610LV. The insert can be removed or replaced, and a standard 16610 case can accept a green insert. Check the reference and serial markings, the black Maxi dial, case construction, caliber 3135, bracelet, insert printing, and any service or delivery records as separate evidence.


Authentication starts with the caseback, then the Maxi dial, then the papers, and only then the bezel. The green insert is the easiest part to fake or swap, so it gets verified last against everything else.
Y-serial and early F-serial examples are often discussed as early deliveries, but a serial alone is not proof of an original anniversary watch. A case swap, service dial, or replacement insert can create a mixed configuration. Any mismatch needs an explanation tied to the watch's documented history.
 
The ceramic 116610LV Hulk cannot be faked this way; its Cerachrom bezel cannot be swapped without obvious mechanical disruption. That closed the fraud vector for the successor and concentrated scrutiny on aluminum-bezel Kermits.
 
<span id="y-serial-authenticity-verification"></span>
=== Y-serial authenticity verification ===
 
The Y-serial Kermit is the most collectible tier and the most scrutinized. A Y serial paired with a 2003 purchase date is the expected pattern, not an anomaly: Rolex held earlier-numbered movements for the anniversary release.
 
One specific fraud vector matters here. A Y-serial watch with a worn or service-replaced bezel warrants close examination, since the Y serial could come from a legitimate early movement or could mark a case swap. The check list runs caseback engraved 16610LV with Y-range serial, matching movement serial, original green bezel with natural aging, and ideally a full set confirming 2003 purchase. A single element out of alignment may be innocent; each gap requires its own explanation.


<span id="movement-notes"></span>
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==
== Movement notes ==


Caliber 3135, identical to the standard 16610. Nothing about the movement is specific to the anniversary variant, and COSC chronometer certification applies throughout the run.
The 16610LV uses caliber 3135, the same movement family used in the standard 16610. The anniversary reference has no separate movement designation. COSC certification is part of the published specification, while later service parts and hairsprings should be assessed on the individual movement.


<span id="dial-map"></span>
<span id="dial-map"></span>
Line 179: Line 141:
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==


Case, crystal, and crown are identical to the contemporary 16610. The LEC (Laser Etched Crown) in the sapphire crystal was present from the first deliveries; the 16610LV arrived already in the post-2003 anti-counterfeiting configuration.
The 16610LV uses the contemporary 16610 case, sapphire crystal, Triplock crown, and 300m water-resistance specification. Published examples show the laser-etched coronet in the crystal from the early production period, although a crystal may have been replaced during service.


The bezel insert is green anodized aluminum rather than the Cerachrom ceramic that arrived with the 116610LV Hulk in 2010. The green color fades with time under UV and physical wear, a known aging characteristic of anodized aluminum.
The insert is green anodized aluminum. Cerachrom ceramic belongs to the successor 116610LV. Aluminum inserts can change shade through wear, exposure, lighting, and replacement; those effects are evidence to weigh, not a stand-alone authenticity test.


<span id="bezel-fading-and-authentication"></span>
<span id="bezel-fading-and-authentication"></span>
=== Bezel fading and authentication ===
=== Bezel condition and authentication ===


Factory green anodized aluminum bezels fade under UV and physical wear over years of use. A correctly faded Kermit bezel shows even lightening across the green field, shifting toward a lighter green or grayish-green while the numerals and dive-scale markings remain legible. That is honest wear. Complete fading to pale gray or near-white is uncommon and signals decades of heavy sun exposure.
An original insert can show fading, scratches, or uneven wear, while a service or aftermarket insert can look uniformly saturated. There is no reliable colour rule that identifies an original insert from a photograph alone. Compare the font, numerals, pearl, ageing, case fit, provenance, and the rest of the watch.


A service replacement insert is the primary alternative explanation for an unworn-looking bezel. The giveaway is a saturated, uniform, new-looking green that no 2003 watch should still wear unless it was stored unused or the insert was replaced. A service insert with thin-font Luminova plots is an obvious replacement. One with correct thick-font printing but new condition is subtler, still detectable against a correctly aged original.
[[File:Ref 16610LV dial-detail.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Straight-on studio shot of the 16610LV dial and green bezel|16610LV dial and green bezel study.]]
 
Collectors prefer honestly worn bezels to replaced ones, and a replacement fitted at any service, including Rolex, requires disclosure. The pearl at 12 o'clock sits in the green field rather than the black field of the standard 16610.


<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
Line 197: Line 157:
The 16610LV ships on the 93250 Oyster bracelet with solid end links across the entire run. Stamped end links never appeared on this reference. The clasp is the period diver's-extension Oysterlock, not the Glidelock that arrived with the 116610.
The 16610LV ships on the 93250 Oyster bracelet with solid end links across the entire run. Stamped end links never appeared on this reference. The clasp is the period diver's-extension Oysterlock, not the Glidelock that arrived with the 116610.


Packaging follows the Rolex period standard for 2003 to 2010. Boxes, papers, and hang tags from these years are well-documented in the market, and complete sets carry both a market premium and an authentication advantage.
Packaging follows the period in which the watch was delivered. Boxes, papers, and hang tags can support provenance, but they are not reference-specific proof and can be separated from the watch.


<span id="collectibility-and-market-position"></span>
<span id="collectibility-and-market-position"></span>
== Collectibility and market position ==
== Market context ==
 
The Kermit trades at a consistent premium over the standard 16610. Three things drive it: a shorter production run of about seven years against the 16610's twenty-three, the anniversary significance, and the verified-original premium that the bezel-swap problem creates for any honest example.


Within the reference, Y-serial early-delivery watches sit at the top, followed by early F-serial examples. MK I Flat Four dials carry a premium over later marks, consistent with the general vintage pattern where the first production configuration is most prized. Sotheby's catalogs the Kermit, Hulk, and Starbucks as a recognized collecting lineage.
The 16610LV appears in auction and dealer records in several dial and bezel configurations. Results vary with originality, insert and dial condition, service history, bracelet, papers, and sale date. No published production total or complete serial-linked dial and bezel register was found, so claims about rarity or a fixed premium should be tied to a named lot rather than applied to every example.


Stephen Pulvirent's Sotheby's guide places the Kermit, Hulk, and Starbucks in the same green-bezel Submariner sequence; the three references still differ in case, bezel material, dial, movement generation, and production period.


== Related references ==
== Related references ==


* [[Reference:14060M|Submariner 14060M]] — 2000–2012
* [[Reference:14060M|Submariner 14060M]], 2000–2012
* [[Reference:16610|Submariner 16610]] — Date, Cal 3135 (1988–2010)
* [[Reference:16610|Submariner 16610]], Date, Cal 3135 (1988–2010)
* [[Reference:16613|Submariner 16613]] — 1989–2009
* [[Reference:16613|Submariner 16613]], 1989–2009
* [[Reference:16613LB|Submariner 16613LB]] — 1989–2009
* [[Reference:16613LB|Submariner 16613LB]], 1989–2009
* [[Reference:16613LN|Submariner 16613LN]] — 1989–2009
* [[Reference:16613LN|Submariner 16613LN]], 1989–2009
* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]] — Yellow Gold (2008–2020)
* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]], Yellow Gold (2008–2020)


See also the [[Reference:submariner|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].
See also the [[Reference:submariner|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 16610LV hero.webp|alt=Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit|Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit
File:Ref 16610LV dial-detail.webp|alt=16610LV black Maxi dial and green bezel|16610LV black Maxi dial and green bezel
</gallery>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/how-to-start-collecting-the-rolex-submariner The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide] — Stephen Pulvirent, Sotheby's
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/how-to-start-collecting-the-rolex-submariner Stephen Pulvirent, "The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide", Sotheby's, 2025-03-07]
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-part-2-the-55xx-1680references/ History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date] — Tom Mulraney, Monochrome
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/rolex-submariner-reference-points Stephen Pulvirent, "Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex Submariner", Hodinkee, 2019-07-18]
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-part-2-the-55xx-1680references/ Tom Mulraney, "History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date", Monochrome, 2020-08-19]
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-modern-references/ Tom Mulraney, "History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 3, Modern References", Monochrome, 2020]
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'', Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner: The Watch that Unlocked the Deep'', Nicholas Foulkes, Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024-09-16
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/five-things-i-learned-from-the-first-ever-rolex-authorized-submariner-book Rich Fordon, "Five Things I Learned From The First Ever Rolex-Authorized Submariner Book", Hodinkee, 2024-09-25]
* ''Collecting Rolex Submariner'', Franca and Guido Mondani, Guido Mondani Editore
* [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-green-dive-watch/ "Rolex Submariner LV Dive Watches from Kermit to Starbucks", Fratello]
* [https://www.fratellowatches.com/comparing-green-bezel-black-dial-subs-16610lv-kermit-vs-126610lv-starbucks/ "Comparing 16610LV Kermit vs 126610LV Starbucks", Fratello]
* [https://www.everestbands.com/blogs/bezel-barrel/the-evolution-of-the-green-bezel-submariner Jamie Morton, "The Evolution of the Green Bezel Submariner", Everest Bands, 2023-06-21]
* RolexForums community, "RolexForums 16610LV thread bundle", RolexForums, 2026-04-13
* [https://www.rolex.com/watches/submariner/from-tool-watch-to-icon Submariner: From tool watch to icon], Rolex
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_Submariner Rolex Submariner], Wikipedia (chronology cross-check)
 


[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:Submariner]]

Latest revision as of 06:52, 29 September 2026


Submariner › 16610LV

Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit' in steel with green anniversary bezel, black Maxi dial, and full Oyster bracelet, shown with its box and papers
Rolex Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit' with box and papers, steel case, green anniversary bezel, black Maxi dial, full Oyster bracelet.

The 16610LV is the steel Submariner Date reference introduced in 2003 for the line's 50th anniversary. It ran until 2010, when the ceramic-bezel 116610LV replaced it. The watch uses a green anodized-aluminum bezel insert, a black Maxi dial, and caliber 3135. "Kermit" is a collector nickname; LV refers to *lunette verte*, French for green bezel.


Core facts

detail value
reference 16610LV
nickname Kermit
family Submariner Date
production autumn 2003 to 2010
introduced BaselWorld 2003 (50th anniversary of the Submariner)
movement caliber 3135, COSC, 28,800 vph
case 40mm, 904L steel, no drilled lug holes
crystal sapphire with Cyclops; laser-etched coronet on documented early examples
water resistance 300m / 1000ft
crown Triplock screw-down
bezel unidirectional 120-click, green anodized-aluminum insert
dial black, Maxi dial (enlarged lume indices, wider hands than standard 16610)
lume Super-Luminova
bracelet Oyster ref.93250, solid end links (SEL), Oysterlock clasp
early examples Y- and early F-serial cases are documented; serial and delivery dates do not always coincide
successor 116610LV "Hulk"

Where it sits in the line

The 16610LV shares the 16610 platform, including its case, caliber 3135, sapphire crystal, crown, and Oyster bracelet. Its identifying factory changes are the green aluminum bezel insert and the black Maxi dial with larger markers and hands.

The later 116610LV uses a green ceramic bezel and green dial, while the 126610LV uses a green ceramic bezel and black dial. The 16610LV is the aluminum-bezel member of that later green-bezel sequence. An insert can be replaced, so the dial, case, movement, serial, and delivery records still need to agree.

The Field Manual and other collector references describe the 16610LV as the first Submariner with the Maxi dial. Rolex later used that dial format on the 116610 generation.

Production outline

The 16610LV's broad production window is clear, but the detailed dial and bezel sequence comes from collector classifications and surviving examples rather than a Rolex-published parts chart. Serial and delivery dates overlap, and service parts can change an individual watch.

First delivery and early serials

Rolex presented the reference at BaselWorld 2003 and delivered the first watches later that year. Y-serial and early F-serial cases are both documented among early deliveries. A case serial dates the case's production period; it does not by itself establish the retail date or prove that every component is original.

No drilled lug holes

Production 16610LV cases are found with closed lugs. A purported drilled-lug prototype or executive example needs specific provenance; a drilled-lug case without that evidence should be treated as a case or component mismatch until examined.

Bezel variants and color

Collectors distinguish early "Flat Four" and later "Pointed Four" numerals at the 40 mark. The change is usually placed around the middle of the run, but published charts differ on the serial boundaries. Green shades also vary with production, fading, lighting, and replacement; shade alone does not date or authenticate an insert.

Dial variants

Collector references group 16610LV dials into several marks, often labelled MK I through MK VII. The systems do not use one consistent definition: some combine dial and bezel, while others classify dial printing alone. Differences discussed include the shape of the O in ROLEX, the placement of the R in Oyster, the span of SWISS MADE across the minute marks, and the presence of an engraved rehaut. These details are useful only when compared with a high-resolution known example and the rest of the watch.

The final marks are associated with the later engraved rehaut, but neither a mark label nor a serial range is a substitute for examining the dial, insert, case, movement, and service history together.

Variant and service-part checks

The reference has many documented dial and bezel combinations, and replacement parts circulate. A plausible-looking watch can contain a later dial, a service insert, or a case and movement from different dates. Record each component separately instead of treating a mark name as proof of originality.

Authentication and bezel swaps

A green insert alone does not establish that a watch is a 16610LV. The insert can be removed or replaced, and a standard 16610 case can accept a green insert. Check the reference and serial markings, the black Maxi dial, case construction, caliber 3135, bracelet, insert printing, and any service or delivery records as separate evidence.

Y-serial and early F-serial examples are often discussed as early deliveries, but a serial alone is not proof of an original anniversary watch. A case swap, service dial, or replacement insert can create a mixed configuration. Any mismatch needs an explanation tied to the watch's documented history.

Movement notes

The 16610LV uses caliber 3135, the same movement family used in the standard 16610. The anniversary reference has no separate movement designation. COSC certification is part of the published specification, while later service parts and hairsprings should be assessed on the individual movement.

Dial map

The dial is glossy black in the Maxi format, with white-gold surround markers and a date window at 3. Super-Luminova throughout the run; no tritium dial ever appeared on this reference.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The 16610LV uses the contemporary 16610 case, sapphire crystal, Triplock crown, and 300m water-resistance specification. Published examples show the laser-etched coronet in the crystal from the early production period, although a crystal may have been replaced during service.

The insert is green anodized aluminum. Cerachrom ceramic belongs to the successor 116610LV. Aluminum inserts can change shade through wear, exposure, lighting, and replacement; those effects are evidence to weigh, not a stand-alone authenticity test.

Bezel condition and authentication

An original insert can show fading, scratches, or uneven wear, while a service or aftermarket insert can look uniformly saturated. There is no reliable colour rule that identifies an original insert from a photograph alone. Compare the font, numerals, pearl, ageing, case fit, provenance, and the rest of the watch.

Straight-on studio shot of the 16610LV dial and green bezel
16610LV dial and green bezel study.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

The 16610LV ships on the 93250 Oyster bracelet with solid end links across the entire run. Stamped end links never appeared on this reference. The clasp is the period diver's-extension Oysterlock, not the Glidelock that arrived with the 116610.

Packaging follows the period in which the watch was delivered. Boxes, papers, and hang tags can support provenance, but they are not reference-specific proof and can be separated from the watch.

Market context

The 16610LV appears in auction and dealer records in several dial and bezel configurations. Results vary with originality, insert and dial condition, service history, bracelet, papers, and sale date. No published production total or complete serial-linked dial and bezel register was found, so claims about rarity or a fixed premium should be tied to a named lot rather than applied to every example.

Stephen Pulvirent's Sotheby's guide places the Kermit, Hulk, and Starbucks in the same green-bezel Submariner sequence; the three references still differ in case, bezel material, dial, movement generation, and production period.

Related references

See also the Submariner family index, movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.

  • Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit
    Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit
  • 16610LV black Maxi dial and green bezel
    16610LV black Maxi dial and green bezel

Sources

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