Rolex Submariner 16610LV “Kermit” – History, Specs & Rubber Straps

Few modern Rolex Submariner references have developed a collector following quite like the Rolex Submariner Date 16610LV, better known as the “Kermit.”

Introduced in 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Submariner, the 16610LV combined the familiar black dial and 40mm proportions of the five-digit Submariner with something Rolex had never previously offered on the model: a green bezel.

That seemingly simple change created one of the most recognizable transitional Submariners ever produced. The 16610LV retained much of the character of the traditional aluminum-bezel Submariner while introducing the larger hour markers and hands associated with the modern Maxi dial.

Today, the Kermit occupies an important position between vintage-inspired five-digit Rolex sports watches and the substantially redesigned ceramic Submariners that followed.

What Is the Rolex Submariner 16610LV?

The Rolex Submariner 16610LV is the green-bezel variation of the Submariner Date reference 16610.

The letters “LV” are commonly understood as an abbreviation of the French Lunette Verte, or “green bezel.” The model was introduced in 2003 as Rolex celebrated 50 years of the Submariner.

Unlike later green Submariners, the original Kermit uses a black dial paired with a green aluminum bezel insert.

Its combination of traditional Submariner architecture and a distinctive anniversary color helped establish a formula Rolex would revisit with later generations.

Rolex Submariner 16610LV Specifications

Specification	Rolex Submariner 16610LV
Reference	16610LV
Nickname	“Kermit”
Introduction	2003
Production end	2010
Case diameter	40mm
Case material	904L stainless steel
Bezel	Green aluminum insert
Dial	Black Maxi dial
Movement	Rolex Caliber 3135
Power reserve	Approximately 48 hours
Crystal	Sapphire with Cyclops date magnifier
Water resistance	300 meters / 1,000 feet
Lug width	20mm
Original bracelet	Oyster bracelet ref. 93250

The 40mm Oyster case incorporates Rolex’s Triplock screw-down crown, protected crown guards, a screw-down caseback and sapphire crystal. The watch is rated to 300 meters of water resistance and is powered by the long-running automatic Rolex Caliber 3135.

Why Is the Rolex 16610LV Called the “Kermit”?

“Kermit” is an unofficial collector nickname inspired primarily by the model’s distinctive green bezel.

Nicknames have become part of the language surrounding collectible Rolex sports watches, and the green anniversary Submariner quickly became associated with Kermit the Frog.

The nickname was never part of the official Rolex reference designation, but it has become so widely recognized that “Rolex Kermit” and “16610LV” are effectively interchangeable terms among many enthusiasts and collectors.

The Green Aluminum Bezel

One of the defining characteristics of the 16610LV is its green aluminum bezel insert.

This distinguishes the Kermit from later green Submariners equipped with ceramic Cerachrom inserts. The aluminum construction gives the 16610LV a distinctly different appearance from newer generations and can develop subtle changes in character through years of wear.

The Kermit was also among the final generation of Submariners produced before Rolex transitioned the collection toward ceramic bezels and substantially revised bracelet and case construction.

For collectors who appreciate the proportions and character of five-digit Rolex sports watches, this combination is particularly significant.

The Maxi Dial

The bezel was not the only important visual change.

Rolex equipped the 16610LV with what collectors call a Maxi dial, characterized by larger luminous hour markers and correspondingly larger hands than those found on the standard 16610 of the period.

The result is an unusual combination.

The Kermit retains the slimmer case and lug proportions associated with the older five-digit Submariner generation while incorporating dial elements that anticipated the visual language of later Rolex sports watches.

It is one of the principal reasons the 16610LV is often viewed as a transitional Submariner.

What Is a Rolex Kermit “Flat 4”?

Collectors examining early Rolex Submariner 16610LV examples will frequently encounter the term “Flat 4.”

It refers to the typography of the number 40 on certain early green bezel inserts. On these inserts, the interior of the numeral four has a noticeably flatter appearance than on later examples.

Early 2003 and 2004 watches are particularly associated with the sought-after Flat 4 configuration. Several bezel and dial variations appeared during the production life of the 16610LV, making originality, production period and component configuration important considerations for serious collectors.

This distinction does not change the basic functionality of the watch. Its importance comes primarily from rarity, chronology and collector interest.

Rolex 16610LV Kermit vs. 116610LV Hulk

The original article described the Rolex 116610LV as virtually identical to the 16610LV. This is not the case.

When Rolex discontinued the Kermit around 2010, the green Submariner concept continued with the Submariner Date 116610LV, subsequently nicknamed the “Hulk.”

Although both watches measure approximately 40mm and both use versions of Rolex’s Caliber 3135, visually and structurally they belong to distinctly different generations.

Feature	16610LV “Kermit”	116610LV “Hulk”
Dial	Black	Green
Bezel	Green aluminum	Green Cerachrom ceramic
Case	Traditional five-digit proportions	Broader “Super Case” proportions
Diameter	40mm	40mm
Movement	Caliber 3135	Caliber 3135
Bracelet generation	Earlier Oyster construction	Heavier modern Oyster bracelet
Clasp	Earlier diving clasp	Glidelock system
Production	2003–2010	2010–2020

The Hulk’s green dial and ceramic bezel created a much more saturated all-green appearance, while its broader lugs and upgraded bracelet gave the watch substantially greater wrist presence.

For this reason, the Kermit should not be viewed merely as an earlier version of the Hulk. They represent two distinctly different eras of Submariner design.

Kermit, Hulk and the Modern Green Submariner

The story continued in 2020 when Rolex replaced the 116610LV with the 41mm Submariner Date 126610LV.

That reference returned to the black-dial-and-green-bezel combination associated with the original Kermit, but paired it with Rolex’s modern ceramic bezel, 41mm case generation and Caliber 3235.

Collectors have subsequently applied unofficial nicknames including “Starbucks” to the 126610LV.

This makes the 16610LV particularly significant: it established the black-and-green visual identity that remains associated with green Rolex Submariners more than two decades after its introduction.

The Original Oyster Bracelet

The Submariner 16610LV was originally delivered on the Rolex Oyster bracelet reference 93250.

Its construction differs significantly from current-generation Submariner bracelets. The 16610LV belongs to an era when Rolex sports watches retained lighter bracelet architecture and more traditional clasp construction. Fratello identifies the original 93250 as having solid outer links with hollow center links.

For collectors, preserving the original Oyster bracelet may remain important. However, changing the strap can also provide an entirely different wearing experience while allowing the original bracelet to be stored when desired.

Rubber Straps for the Rolex Submariner 16610LV

The green bezel and black dial of the Rolex Kermit make the reference particularly suitable for a carefully integrated rubber strap.

Rubber B produces Swiss-Made vulcanized rubber straps engineered specifically for pre-2010, non-ceramic 40mm Rolex Submariner models, the generation that includes the 16610LV. Rubber B currently categorizes these watches separately from the 2010–2019 ceramic 40mm Submariners and the 2020-present 41mm generation.

Unlike a generic 20mm watch strap, a model-specific Rubber B configuration is designed around the geometry of the Submariner case.

Selected configurations incorporate Blocked Integration™, providing a calibrated connection between the strap and watch case rather than leaving a conventional gap between the lugs. Rubber B offers multiple closure configurations for the pre-2010 Submariner platform, including versions designed around the original Rolex clasp as well as Rubber B tang-buckle and alternative closure systems.

For the 16610LV specifically, a black and green VulChromatic® configuration creates a natural connection with the Kermit’s black dial and iconic green bezel while preserving the unmistakable character of the watch.

Classic Series: Original Rolex Clasp

Tang Buckle Series

Velcro® Series

SwimSkin® Alligator

SwimSkin® Ballistic

VulChromatic® Dual-Color Straps

Why the Rolex Kermit Still Matters

The Rolex Submariner 16610LV occupies an unusual point in Submariner history.

It combines:

• Traditional five-digit Submariner case proportions
• A green aluminum anniversary bezel
• A black dial
• Maxi hour markers and hands
• The proven Rolex Caliber 3135
• 300-meter water resistance
• The classic 40mm Submariner format

More importantly, it bridges two eras.

The Kermit has enough traditional Submariner character to appeal to collectors who favor pre-ceramic Rolex sports watches, yet its oversized dial markers and unconventional color introduced design elements that would become increasingly important in the generations that followed.

The 16610LV was not simply a green variation of an existing Submariner. It became one of the references that helped define the modern collectible Rolex sports watch.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Rolex 16610LV

The Rolex Kermit: A Modern Submariner Classic

More than two decades after its introduction, the Rolex Submariner 16610LV remains one of the defining references of the five-digit Submariner era.

Its green aluminum bezel immediately separates it from the conventional black Submariners that preceded it, while its Maxi dial foreshadowed the direction Rolex would take in later generations.

Between the original Oyster bracelet and a precisely calibrated Swiss-Made vulcanized rubber strap, the Kermit also demonstrates how a single Submariner can take on distinctly different characters without losing the unmistakable proportions that made the 16610 generation so enduring.

For owners seeking a rubber configuration engineered specifically around this generation, explore the Rubber B collection for the Rolex Submariner 40mm with non-ceramic bezel.

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