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Reference:16610LV: Difference between revisions

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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 alongside the reference number. Rolex released it in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Submariner at BaselWorld, and it ran until 2010 when the ceramic-bezel 116610LV took over. The LV in the reference number stands for Lunette Verte (green bezel in French).
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 alongside the reference number. Rolex released it in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Submariner at BaselWorld, and it ran until 2010 when the ceramic-bezel 116610LV took over. The LV in the reference number stands for Lunette Verte (green bezel in French).


Before the Kermit, the black aluminum insert had been standard across the entire Submariner line for decades. The green insert broke that continuity as a deliberate anniversary statement.
The black aluminum insert had been standard across the Submariner line for decades. The green insert broke that continuity as a deliberate anniversary statement, and it is the external feature that the Kermit is remembered for.


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== Where it sits in the line and why it matters ==
== Where it sits in the line and why it matters ==


The 16610LV is a platform variant of the 16610, not a separate design. Case, movement, crystal, crown, and bracelet are identical. The external differences are the green aluminum bezel insert and the Maxi dial with enlarged hour indices and slightly wider hands. But those differences are significant enough to make the Kermit a distinct collecting story.
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 the Maxi dial with enlarged hour indices and slightly wider hands, and those two changes are enough to make the Kermit a distinct collecting story.


The green bezel Submariner lineage runs:
The green bezel Submariner lineage runs:
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* 126610LV '''Starbucks''' (2020–present): green ceramic bezel, black dial
* 126610LV '''Starbucks''' (2020–present): green ceramic bezel, black dial


The Kermit is the founding member. It established the green bezel as a Submariner identity element that has persisted across three successive platforms. Neither the 116610LV Hulk nor the 126610LV Starbucks can be confused with the original aluminum-bezel Kermit, which is precisely why the Kermit’s authentication problem is so significant.
The Kermit is the founding member of that run and the only one built on an aluminum bezel. The ceramic Hulk and Starbucks cannot be confused visually with the Kermit, which is exactly why the Kermit carries a distinct authentication problem covered below: a 16610 with an aftermarket green insert can pass for a Kermit in ways a steel 16610 never could for a 116610LV.


Per the Vintage Rolex Field Manual, the 16610LV was the first Submariner with enlarged lume indices. This Maxi dial format later became standard on the 116610LN and all subsequent Submariner references. The Kermit is the original application.
Per the Vintage Rolex Field Manual, the 16610LV was the first Submariner with enlarged lume indices. This Maxi dial format later became standard on the 116610LN and all subsequent Submariner references. The Kermit is the original application.
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=== First delivery and early serials ===
=== First delivery and early serials ===


The 16610LV was introduced at BaselWorld 2003, with first deliveries in autumn 2003. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual documents that the first examples went out with '''Y serial''' numbers. Y serials correspond to the 2001–2002 production band in the Rolex sequential serial system; these movements were produced earlier and held for the anniversary release. Additional first-delivery examples carried early '''F serials''' from October–December 2003, as the watch moved into regular retail.
The 16610LV was introduced at BaselWorld 2003, with first deliveries in autumn 2003. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual documents that the first examples went out with Y-serial numbers. Y serials correspond to the 2001 to 2002 production band in the Rolex sequential serial system; these 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.


The Y-serial range (about 2001–2002) reflects Rolex movement production dates, not retail delivery dates. Movements produced in 2001–2002 were assembled into watches and delivered to authorized dealers beginning in autumn 2003, following the BaselWorld 2003 introduction. This batch-production-to-retail timeline is standard Rolex practice. A Y-serial Kermit purchased in 2003 with original papers is entirely consistent; the movement was produced earlier but the watch was new at point of sale.
The Y-serial range (about 2001–2002) reflects Rolex movement production dates, not retail delivery dates. Movements produced in 2001–2002 were assembled into watches and delivered to authorized dealers beginning in autumn 2003, following the BaselWorld 2003 introduction. This batch-production-to-retail timeline is standard Rolex practice. A Y-serial Kermit purchased in 2003 with original papers is entirely consistent; the movement was produced earlier but the watch was new at point of sale.


Collectors specifically seek Y-serial Kermits as the earliest production examples of the reference. The first green bezel Submariner ever delivered. An F-serial Kermit from the same autumn 2003 delivery window is also an early example and is priced accordingly.
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.


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=== Bezel variants: Flat Four and Pointed Four ===
=== Bezel variants: Flat Four and Pointed Four ===


The 16610LV bezel insert changed during the production run. The key distinction is the numeral 4 at the 4-minute position on the bezel scale:
The 16610LV bezel insert changed during the production run, with the distinction visible in the numeral 4 at the 4-minute position on the bezel scale. The earlier Flat Four has a fully extending crossbar that closes the top of the 4. The later Pointed Four leaves the crossbar short, so the top of the digit opens into an angular loop. Rolex Forum documentation places the transition at about serial F5xxxxx, which corresponds roughly to mid-2005. All Y-serial and early F-serial examples should carry the Flat Four; the Pointed Four continued through the end of production.
 
* '''Flat Four''' (early production): the top of the 4 is closed; the crossbar extends fully, closing the upper portion of the digit. This is the original bezel configuration.
* '''Pointed Four''' (later production): the top of the 4 is open; the crossbar does not extend far enough to close the digit, leaving an angular open loop.
 
Rolex Forum documentation places the Flat Four to Pointed Four transition at about serial F5xxxxx, corresponding roughly to mid-2005. All Y-serial and early F-serial examples should have the Flat Four bezel. The Pointed Four continued through the end of production.


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== Movement notes ==
== Movement notes ==


Caliber 3135, identical to the standard 16610. Nothing movement-specific to the anniversary variant. COSC chronometer certification applies throughout the 16610LV run, consistent with all 16610-platform watches.
The 16610LV uses caliber 3135, identical to the standard 16610; nothing about the movement is specific to the anniversary variant. COSC chronometer certification applies throughout the run.


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== Dial map ==
== Dial map ==


Black gloss Maxi dial with white-gold surround markers and date window at 3 o’clock. Super-Luminova throughout; no tritium dials exist on this reference.
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.


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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.
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 bezel insert is green anodized aluminum. Not ceramic. The green color can fade over time, a known aging characteristic of anodized aluminum under UV and physical wear.
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.


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Factory green anodized aluminum bezels fade through UV exposure and physical wear over years of use.
Factory green anodized aluminum bezels fade through UV exposure 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 numbers and dive scale markings retain legibility. Honest use. Complete fading to pale gray or near-white is more extreme and uncommon; it suggests heavy sun exposure over many years.
A correctly faded Kermit bezel shows even lightening across the green field, shifting toward a lighter green or grayish-green while the numbers and dive-scale markings remain legible. That is honest wear. Complete fading to pale gray or near-white is more extreme and uncommon; it signals heavy sun exposure over many years.


A service replacement bezel insert is the primary alternative. The giveaway is a saturated, uniform, new-looking green, vivid and consistent in a way that a 2003 watch should not exhibit unless it was stored unworn or the insert was replaced. A service insert with thin-font Luminova plots is an obvious replacement. A service insert with correct thick-font printing but new condition is a subtler tell but still detectable against a correctly worn original.
A service replacement bezel insert is the primary alternative. The giveaway is a saturated, uniform, new-looking green, vivid and consistent in a way that a 2003 watch should not exhibit unless it was stored unworn or the insert was replaced. A service insert with thin-font Luminova plots is an obvious replacement. A service insert with correct thick-font printing but new condition is a subtler tell but still detectable against a correctly worn original.
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