This article may contain affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase a product using the link I may get a small commission. This is at no extra cost to yourself and enables me to keep writing reviews of watches and products I genuinely think you will enjoy or find useful.

Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit

I remember quite vividly the first time I went to my local AD to look at the Rolex sports models. At the time I had my heart set on a Seadweller, but I found it a little too thick and at that point tried on a black submariner 16610 and my mind was swayed in that direction. The whole feel on the wrist of the Submariner for me was perfect. The case dimensions and thickness felt just right. 

I was smitten, and at that point, for the first time in the Rolex steel submariner range, the question of colour came up. Fetching a catalogue I was shown the Submariner 16610LV with the striking green bezel insert that we have all become accustomed to seeing now for years. There was no price difference, but this model I was told was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Submariner so featured the green insert instead of the standard black.

I’m not ashamed to say that like quite a few in the watch community back then I wasn’t initially sure of the whole green colour scheme. But the more I looked at it, the more I wanted something a little different from the classic black. After a short time, I decided I’d go with the green LV model and was annoyed to hear I’d have to wait six weeks to get it. Laughable, really, in today’s market where a six-week wait would indeed be a dream to some buyers who sit on waiting lists for years in some cases to get their hands on some models.

Three weeks later, I got the call and the rest, as they say, is history. I had my first Rolex Submariner on my wrist and it was green. Sometime later I had to sell this particular one but that’s another story. The next one I purchased I can honestly say, will never leave my collection, mostly for sentimental reasons. As the years have rolled on we have seen more green-themed Submariners in both the “Hulk” 116610LV and most recently the “Starbucks” or whatever it ends up being nicknamed by the watch community 126610LV. All three are very similar but also very different watches. Still, they all started back with the venerable 16610LV and owed their existence to the decision Rolex made back in 2003 to introduce the “Kermit” to the Submariner line.

So with the Kermit, Rolex was marking the 50th anniversary of the Submariner line and it was with the Kermit the Submariner was also updated with the Maxi Dial. This dial version featured larger hands and indices that had previously only been seen on the Yacht-Master from around 1991. The case remained standard 16610 with a 40mm diameter and a 20mm lug width. At approximately 13mm thick the Submariner is reasonably slim, allowing it to slip under the cuff nicely but still has that tool watch feel. The maxi dial is matte black with 18ct gold applied markers all lume filled and of course those unmistakable mercedes hands. 

The bezel insert is what sets the LV apart from a standard Submariner 16610, and of course it is in the green we have all come to recognise. There were a few variations of the LV over the seven years of production with slight differences to the dial. For instance, the early versions did not feature the engraved rehaut ring, this didn’t appear until around 2008. The most famous of the variations are probably the FAT 4 or Flat four. Still, essentially this was a difference on again early models where the four featured on the dive bezel text essentially had a very pronounced flat top to the font used for the four. There are a number of these variations, but I won't go into all these here maybe in a later article. These are very very slight cosmetic differences which most would miss if they didn't know what they were looking for. Regardless of minor details in these variations, they carry a steep premium! Just google these to get an idea of how much!

Aside from some of these visual variations over the years, the watch in terms of other specifications remained the same. Still 300m water resistance and still used the same Oyster Bracelet featured on the standard black model. It also featured the same Caliber 3135 movement which is certified as a superlative chronometer and offers the wearer 48hrs of power reserve and the quick-change date function. In the years I've owned this Kermit I have to say the accuracy has been excellent and the action on winding is buttery smooth. 

All in all, the Submariner as a watch has been everything that I hoped it would be, accurate, sturdy and very versatile, and wearable in many situations. The fact that this is the LV version may mean it's not quite so versatile in terms of color coordination, but that now seems like a small price to pay for having this in the collection. The Submariner and Rolex line, in general, go through an evolution as opposed to redesigning, which means in terms of overall appearance, you need to go back many decades to see apparent differences in Submariner design. Some people lament this and some people like the fact that the Submariner is very much a constant in terms of design in the watch world.

So if the differences were somewhat limited between the standard black 16610 and the LV variant then why is this version still so sought after? Before the introduction of the LV variant colour in Rolex sports models and mainly the Submariner line was restricted to precious metals, so the introduction of a steel version with another colour other than black involved was a big deal back then and marked the start of the LV line we have become used too. Today the Kermit has somewhat of a cult following and so does the newer Hulk version, and I'm sure the latest Starbucks version will be much the same. The differences between the three in terms of looks are quite marked.

Comparing a Kermit to the newer Hulk 116610LV version and the differences are quite plain to see. Whereas looking at the latest Starbucks 126610LV and the aesthetics seem to have been dialled back a notch more towards the original Kermit released all those years ago. So what's changed over the years between Kermit and Starbucks?

Well, looking first at the differences between the original Kermit and the Hulk variant from 2010, the differences are plain to see. The hulk features the same 40mm size case, but it's now what Rolex call the Maxi case. Overall a much more angular case shape with more pronounced crown guards and thicker lugs. It also now featured a new Cerachrom bezel insert to replace the Aluminium one used on the Kermit. This new insert is scratch-resistant and won't fade over the years like the more traditional aluminium ones used in the older variants.

The Hulk also featured a fully green dial and not a flat green, but a very striking green sunburst was used, which gave the Hulk a very different look compared to the almost understated green used for the Kermit. Finally, the Hulk, along with the rest of the Submariner line, now uses an updated bracelet featuring Rolexes Glidelock extension system with solid links. This enables the wearer to get a very customised fit and easy adjustments.

Movements between Kermit and Hulk remained the same and have only recently changed with the introduction of the Starbucks 126610LV. This latest Variant sees the case size grow by 1mm to 41mm but interestingly sees a return of slimmer lugs more akin to the Kermit and a black dial again more like the original. This latest LV still retains the use of Cerachrom for the bezel insert and the bracelet featuring Glidelock but now also features a new movement. The new Calibre 3235 which sees the most notable difference for wearers in the power reserve which has grown from 48 to 70hrs. 

Looking at the three, it's almost as though this latest version should have come before the hulk, and the hulk should have been the final variation in the LV line as it looks the most extreme in terms of differences. I haven't had an opportunity to try on the latest version, but based on the case design, I would imagine this wears more like the Kermit than the hulk. I think this is the right direction in terms of case design for the Submariner line in general but I’m sure many may prefer the Maxi case.

So the questions I get asked most about the Kermit, believe it or not, is why I haven't traded it in for a Hulk ? or would I be interested in the latest Starbucks version?  And I guess the answer to the first question and the Hulk is; it's not a look I'm personally particularly attracted to. It’s a handsome watch, but as I said at the beginning of this article, I had my reservations about the colour with the original Kermit, and the Hulk for me with the Green sunburst dial was always just a step too far for me in the green stakes. 

Secondly, for me, The Maxi case loses some of the svelte lines that drew me to the Submariner as a watch in the first place. From a visual perspective, I prefer the slimmer lugs and crown guards on the 16610. Thirdly, as much as I understand the robustness of the Cerachrom now used for inserts, part of me enjoys the fact that the older inserts fade and take on a very special character all of their own that the Cerachrom will never do. In short, the only upgrade that I would appreciate would be the bracelet on the Hulk. That was a long-overdue improvement for the Rolex sports models I think most will agree. For me, it’s not about which one is better. It’s about the aesthetics, and for me, my preference sits with the Kermit.

How about the latest incarnation, then? Well, this offers a case in some ways closer to the Kermit as well as an improved movement with better power reserve and a return to the black dial of the original Kermit. It still uses Cerachrom for the insert and has the better bracelet, so overall it's a more appealing package for me personally. However, I'm still not sure I would want one in place of my current Kermit, thanks to the larger crown guards. Based on current waiting lists, I'm sure it's not something there would be any point in me worrying about anyway.

With all three of these LV variations of the Submariner, there are no winners and no losers. The very reasons I have for not wanting newer versions will be the same reasons some will be looking to upgrade or buy them in the first place. The Kermit, for me, was the last of the modern Submariners with the features and style I liked, the best balance of modern and vintage feel. But wearing any of the versions we have talked about is a wonderful position to be in.

So in conclusion, you really can't go wrong with any of the LV variations of the Submariner if you want to dip your toe into their green world. All three feature excellent movements, build quality, and finishing. The choice between the Submariners really does come down to the one that appeals to you most stylistically and which case you find wears best for you. Yes, the modern bracelets are a step up against the older Kermit generation version, but in daily wear, I’m not sure this should be enough to sway anyone in one direction or the other. And whilst the very latest version offers 70 hours of power reserve, I can’t say I’ve ever needed more than the 48 provided by the 3135 movement.

So, the future looks bright for the LV line of Submariners. What Rolex introduced firstly with its Submariner, and then in the first LV back in 2003 has carried through to the watches we see today, and whichever one you choose, I’m sure it will be as special to you as the Kermit is for me.

Are you hunting for a good example of the Rolex Kermit? check availability here at Joma Shop

Specifications:

Model: Submariner 16610LV

Case: 40mm Oystersteel, screw down crown, screw down case-back 

Lug Width: 20mm

Crystal: Sapphire

Dial: Black with 18ct white gold indices surrounds and lume, Mercedes hands

Water resistance: 300m

Movement: Calibre 3135

Power reserve: 48hrs 

Bracelet: Oyster bracelet with divers extension