What is the Rolex Submariner Kermit 16610LV?

The Rolex Submariner Date 16610LV is the green-bezel Submariner Rolex released in 2003 for the model's 50th anniversary and built until 2010. It has a 40 mm steel case, a green anodised aluminium bezel insert, a black "Maxi" dial with enlarged lume plots and the calibre 3135. Collectors call it the "Kermit". It was the first green Submariner, the last aluminium-bezel Submariner Date, and the start of the line that runs through the ceramic "Hulk" 116610LV to today's "Starbucks" 126610LV. This guide covers the specifications, the "flat four" bezel that early examples carry, how the Kermit compares with its two successors, prices in 2026 and what to check before buying a watch that is now 16 to 23 years old. Bizak & Co. sources the 16610LV to order; the used Submariner collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 21, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Submariner 16610LV specifications

Sources: the Rolex Submariner collection page for the current green successor, and Rolex watch care and service for the service and parts policy that governs a discontinued reference.

Why did Rolex make a green Submariner?

The Submariner launched in 1953, and for its 50th anniversary in 2003 Rolex did something it had never done on the model: it changed the bezel colour. Green is Rolex's corporate colour, and the 16610LV paired it with a black dial rather than the green dial that came later. The anniversary watch also introduced the Maxi dial, with bigger lume plots and wider hands, which became standard on the ceramic Submariners from 2008. At launch the Kermit was controversial; by the time it was discontinued in 2010 it had become the most collectable modern Submariner, and the green line has been in the catalogue ever since.

What is the flat four bezel?

The earliest Kermits, mostly Y and early F serials from 2003 and 2004, have a bezel insert where the "4" in "40" has a flat top rather than the pointed top used on later inserts. Rolex changed the font within about a year, so the "flat four" marks a first-production watch and adds a premium, often several thousand dollars, when the insert is original and matches the serial. Inserts were replaced at service, so a flat four on a late-serial watch is a swapped part, and a pointed four on an early watch means the original insert is gone. Other early details collectors check: the "SWISS MADE" text position and the lume colour on the dial.

Kermit vs Hulk vs Starbucks

The Kermit is the collector's choice: aluminium bezel, slim lugs and the original anniversary story. The Hulk is the loudest of the three with its green dial. The Starbucks is the one to buy for the current movement and warranty. Our Rolex nicknames guide covers the rest of the family.

How much is a Rolex Kermit? Prices in 2026

• Retail history. The 16610LV listed at about US$5,000 at launch in 2003 and about US$7,500 when discontinued in 2010. It has not been sold by Rolex since.
• Secondary market. In 2025 and 2026, full-set 16610LV examples have generally been asked in the mid-to-high US$10,000s, with confirmed flat-four examples and unpolished early sets above US$20,000. Watch-only examples with service parts sit well below.
• Bizak catalogue asks. On 12 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed a pre-owned full-set 16610LV at US$18,599, sourced to order.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact serial range, bezel and set; our Submariner price guide explains how to compare quotes.

Is the 16610LV a good investment?

The Kermit has been the best-performing modern Submariner: it roughly doubled from its discontinuation price by 2018 and rose again in 2021 and 2022 before settling. Supply is fixed at seven years of production, the anniversary story is unrepeatable, and each year more examples are polished or fitted with service parts, which makes correct ones scarcer. Buy an original, full-set, unpolished example and it should hold value better than any current Submariner. If resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.

Buying a used 16610LV: what to check

• Serial and papers. The serial between the lugs at 6, and on the rehaut from 2007, should match the guarantee paper or card. A full set with box, papers, hang tags and booklets adds materially to the price.
• Bezel insert. Confirm the flat or pointed four matches the serial range; an original insert shows light, even fading. A bright, perfect insert on an early watch is a service part.
• Dial and hands. The Maxi dial's lume plots should match the hands in colour; a replaced dial or hand set from a later watch glows a different shade.
• Case. Sharp lug chamfers, crisp edges on the crown guards and drilled lug holes on early examples; rounded edges mean polishing, which costs the Kermit more than most references.
• Bracelet. Solid end links, no stretch when held sideways, and a clasp that closes with a firm click.
• Movement and service. A 3135 should run within a few seconds a day; ask for the last service receipt and pressure-test date. Rolex will fit service parts, so ask whether the seller retained the originals.
• Price against the band. A full-set flat-four Kermit offered well under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch, and our vintage Submariner authentication guide goes deeper on dials and inserts.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Submariner Kermit 16610LV?

Full-set examples were generally asked in the mid-to-high US$10,000s in 2025 and 2026, with flat-four and unpolished early sets above US$20,000. Bizak's catalogue showed a pre-owned full set at US$18,599 on 12 September 2026.

What years was the Rolex 16610LV made?

From 2003, when it launched for the Submariner's 50th anniversary, to 2010, when the ceramic 116610LV Hulk replaced it.

What is a flat four Kermit?

An early 16610LV whose bezel insert has a flat-topped 4 in the 40 marker, used only in the first year or so of production. Original flat-four inserts carry a premium.

What is the difference between the Kermit and the Hulk?

The Kermit (16610LV) has a green aluminium bezel and black dial in a slim-lug 40 mm case; the Hulk (116610LV) has a green ceramic bezel and green dial in the wider super case. Both use the calibre 3135.

Does the Kermit have a ceramic bezel?

No. The 16610LV has an anodised aluminium insert, which is why it fades and why original inserts matter to collectors.

Request a Submariner 16610LV sourcing quote

Tell us the preferred serial range, whether a flat four matters, condition and whether papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: pre-owned 16610LV, 116610LV Hulk, 126610LV Starbucks; browse the used Submariner collection, the green watches collection, or sell or trade your Submariner.

Related reading: Starbucks 126610LV guide · Hulk 116610LV review · Submariner 16613 Bluesy guide · Vintage Submariner authentication.