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{{#seo:
|title=Rolex 116610LV Submariner — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges | BezelBase
|description=The 116610LV is the green-dial, green-bezel Submariner Date that collectors call the **Hulk**. Rolex introduced it in 2010 alongside the black 116610LN,…
|keywords=Rolex, 116610LV, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref 116610LV hero.jpg
|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV
|type=article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:12:55Z
|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:46:06Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}


The 116610LV is the green-dial, green-bezel Submariner Date that collectors call the '''Hulk'''. Rolex introduced it in 2010 alongside the black 116610LN, replacing the 16610LV "Kermit." It ran until 2020, when the 126610LV ("Starbucks") took over. Mechanically it is the same watch as the 116610LN. The difference is color, and that difference defines it — and defines its market.
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] -> '''116610LV'''</small>


A one-generation anomaly. Every other green-bezel Submariner pairs a green bezel with a black dial. The Hulk does not. It pairs a green Cerachrom ceramic bezel with a green sunburst dial — the only reference in the entire Submariner lineage to commit to green on both surfaces simultaneously. When Rolex discontinued the 116610LV in 2020, it discontinued the green Submariner dial with it. No green-dial Sub has been produced since.
The 116610LV is the green-dial, green-bezel Submariner Date that collectors call the Hulk. Rolex introduced it in 2010 alongside the black 116610LN, replacing the 16610LV "Kermit," and ran the reference until 2020 when the 126610LV "Starbucks" took over. Case, movement, bracelet, and crystal are shared with the 116610LN. The bezel and dial are what set the Hulk apart, and what carry the market.


That fact alone drives the market. As of late 2025, the 116610LV trades on the secondary market at approximately '''$23,600 USD''' (Sotheby's data). The successor 126610LV — the Starbucks, which returned to a black dial — retails new at '''$11,900 USD'''. The Hulk's secondary market price is nearly double the retail price of its own successor. That gap is the clearest possible expression of what collector scarcity looks like: a discontinued reference that cost less than its successor retails for, now commanding twice the successor's price.
The Hulk is a one-generation anomaly. Every other green-bezel Submariner pairs the green bezel with a black dial. The Hulk pairs a green Cerachrom ceramic bezel with a green sunburst dial, the only Submariner that commits to green on both surfaces. When the reference left production in 2020, the green Submariner dial left with it.


==Core facts==
<span id="core-facts"></span>
 
[[File:Ref 116610LV hero.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV]]
 
== Core facts ==


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


The 116610LV is the green variant within the 116610 generation of the Submariner Date. It sits parallel to the 116610LN, sharing the same case, movement, bracelet, crystal, and crown. Only the bezel color and dial color differ.
The 116610LV is the green variant within the 116610 generation of the Submariner Date, sitting parallel to the black-bezel 116610LN. The two references share case, movement, bracelet, crystal, and crown. Only bezel color and dial color differ.


==Green Submariner lineage==
<span id="green-submariner-lineage"></span>
== Green Submariner lineage ==


The green bezel Submariner has a continuous lineage stretching back to 2003. Each generation brought its own interpretation, and the 116610LV is the outlier.
The green-bezel Submariner has run continuously since 2003, and each generation has given the concept its own treatment. The Hulk is the outlier.


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The Kermit established the green-bezel Submariner as a collector reference in 2003. The Hulk replaced it in 2010 with the ceramic bezel generation — and added the green dial. The Starbucks replaced the Hulk in 2020 and returned to a black dial.
The Kermit established the green-bezel Submariner as a collector reference in 2003 on a black dial and aluminum bezel. The Hulk replaced it in 2010 with the ceramic bezel generation and added a green sunburst dial. The Starbucks replaced the Hulk in 2020 and walked the dial back to black while keeping the green Cerachrom.
 
The Hulk stands alone. It is the only reference in this sequence, and in the entire Submariner catalog, where both the bezel and the dial are green. Before it: black dial. After it: black dial.
 
==The Kermit vs. Hulk distinction==
 
This matters enough to state plainly because collectors conflate the two:
 
* '''Kermit''' (16610LV, 2003–2010): green aluminum bezel + black dial. The bezel fades over time — "ghost" Kermits are sought after.
* '''Hulk''' (116610LV, 2010–2020): green Cerachrom ceramic bezel + green sunburst dial. The bezel does not fade. The dial is green.
 
The Kermit's bezel fading was part of its collector identity. A well-faded Kermit insert is a prize. The Hulk's ceramic bezel eliminates that dimension entirely — there are no faded Hulks, and there will never be. Instead, the Hulk offers something no Kermit can: a green dial. The two references appeal to different instincts within the green Submariner collector community.
 
==Production outline==
 
Like the 116610LN, the Hulk is a single-era reference. The ceramic bezel does not fade. The green sunburst dial does not change mid-run. Caliber 3135 stays throughout.
 
Rolex introduced the 116610LV at Baselworld 2010 as the direct replacement for the 16610LV Kermit. It carried all the same generational upgrades as the 116610LN: Cerachrom bezel, Maxi Case, Glidelock bracelet, and Chromalight lume.
 
Production ended in 2020 when Rolex replaced it with the 126610LV, which moved to the 41mm case with caliber 3235 and, pointedly, returned to a black dial with the green bezel.
 
==Movement notes==


Caliber 3135, identical to the 116610LN. COSC-certified automatic, 28,800 bph, approximately 48 hours of power reserve. Parachrom hairspring.
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==


The successor 126610LV uses caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve. That is the main functional upgrade between generations.
Rolex introduced the 116610LV at Baselworld 2010 as the direct replacement for the Kermit. The Hulk carried the same generational upgrades as the 116610LN: Cerachrom bezel, Maxi Case, Glidelock bracelet, and Chromalight lume. Caliber 3135 stayed throughout. No mid-run dial or bezel variants are known.


==Dial map==
Production ended in September 2020 when Rolex replaced the Hulk with the 126610LV "Starbucks" at the postponed 2020 novelties announcement. The successor moved the line to a 41mm case and caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.


Green sunburst with white gold applied Maxi markers and Chromalight blue lume. "Sunburst" means the finish radiates outward from the center in a pattern that shifts with light and angle, giving the dial depth and movement. In indoor or low lighting the dial reads almost black. In direct sunlight it turns distinctly, vividly green. Between those extremes the dial passes through every shade of dark green, olive, and forest green.
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==


The Cerachrom bezel and broader lugs give the watch an aggressive, presence-forward character. It wears larger on the wrist than the Kermit, even though both are nominally 40mm.
Caliber 3135 throughout, identical to the 116610LN. COSC-certified automatic, 28,800 vph, about 48 hours of power reserve, Parachrom blue hairspring. The successor 126610LV moved to caliber 3235 with a 70-hour reserve. That is the principal functional upgrade between the two generations.


===What makes the green dial unique===
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==


The green dial is the single feature that separates the Hulk from every other green Submariner. The Kermit had a black dial. The Starbucks returned to a black dial. When Rolex discontinued the 116610LV, it discontinued the green Submariner dial with it. The supply is permanently fixed.
The green sunburst dial is the feature the Hulk is named for. In low light it reads almost black. In direct sun it turns vivid green. Paired with the wide Maxi case, the dial gives the watch a heavier visual presence than the Kermit at the same nominal size.


The green sunburst finish is purpose-built for the Submariner — not a Day-Date green dial applied to a diver. Forum members have described the dial as made from "gold and aluminum dust," a characterization that, if accurate, would explain the distinctive depth and light-shifting quality. The dial interacts with the green Cerachrom bezel to produce a monochromatic green effect that no other Rolex sport watch replicates, before or since.
<span id="what-makes-the-green-dial-unique"></span>
=== What makes the green dial unique ===


No known mid-run dial variants exist for the 116610LV.
The sunburst finish is specific to the Submariner. It is not a Day-Date green dial dropped into a diver case. Collector accounts describe the lacquer as containing gold and aluminum particles, which would help explain its depth and the way it shifts under different light. The dial reads against the green Cerachrom bezel as a single monochromatic field, an effect no other Rolex sport watch carries.


==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes==
Collector research usually splits the Hulk dial into three print generations across the decade. The differences are real but subtle. Production was high enough that the market premium tracks desirability rather than scarcity.


===Case===
<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
[[File:Ref 116610LV detail.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Detail view|Detail view]]


Identical to the 116610LN. 40mm in 904L Oystersteel, Maxi Case / Super Case with wider lugs, no lug holes, solid fluted screw-down caseback. Approximately 12.5mm thick, 48mm lug-to-lug.
<span id="case"></span>
=== Case ===


===Bezel===
Identical to the 116610LN: 40mm in 904L Oystersteel in Maxi Case (or "Super Case") format, with wider lugs, no lug holes, and a solid fluted screw-down caseback. Approximately 12.5mm thick, 48mm lug-to-lug.


Green Cerachrom ceramic, unidirectional with 60 clicks. Platinum PVD numerals and graduation marks. The green ceramic does not fade or develop patina the way the green aluminum insert on the Kermit did. On the Kermit, bezel fading was a feature collectors tracked and priced — a well-faded Kermit bezel commands a premium. On the Hulk, the color stays. Permanent.
<span id="bezel"></span>
=== Bezel ===


Forum discussions describe the green Cerachrom manufacturing as a particular challenge, requiring a proprietary green pigment formula. Achieving a consistent, vivid green in ceramic reportedly demanded specialized parameters beyond what black or blue inserts require.
Green Cerachrom ceramic, unidirectional 60-click, with platinum PVD numerals and graduations. The green ceramic does not fade or develop patina the way the green aluminum insert on the Kermit did. Kermit bezel fading is a feature collectors track and price, with well-faded examples commanding a premium. On the Hulk the color stays put.


The green Cerachrom is the same material used on the successor 126610LV. The color is consistent between the two references; what changes is the dial beneath it.
Green Cerachrom is widely understood to be the hardest of the colored ceramics for Rolex to produce consistently, with a proprietary pigment formula and tighter sintering tolerances than the black or blue inserts. The same green Cerachrom carries forward onto the successor 126610LV. What changes across the generation is the dial.


===Crystal===
<span id="crystal"></span>
=== Crystal ===


Sapphire with Cyclops at 3 o'clock and anti-reflective inner coating. Same as the 116610LN.
Sapphire with Cyclops at 3 o'clock and anti-reflective inner coating. Same as the 116610LN.


===Crown===
<span id="crown"></span>
=== Crown ===


Triplock screw-down with crown guards. 300m / 1000ft water resistance.
Triplock screw-down with crown guards, rated to 300m / 1000ft.


==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==
<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==


===Bracelet===
<span id="bracelet"></span>
=== Bracelet ===


Oyster bracelet with solid links, Oysterlock clasp, and Glidelock extension system. Same specification as the 116610LN: approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment in 2mm increments. Bracelet reference is likely 93250, consistent with six-digit Submariner fitment.
Oyster bracelet with solid links, Oysterlock clasp, and Glidelock extension. Same specification as the 116610LN, with roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment in 2mm increments. Oysterlock is the locking safety clasp used across the modern Professional line. Glidelock is the in-clasp, on-the-fly length adjustment.


===Packaging===
<span id="packaging"></span>
=== Packaging ===


Standard Rolex green box of the 2010s era with warranty card, COSC tag, booklets, and hang tags. No known packaging differences between the 116610LV and 116610LN.
Standard Rolex green box of the 2010s era with warranty card, COSC tag, booklets, and hang tags. No known packaging differences between the 116610LV and 116610LN.


==The nickname lineage==
<span id="the-nickname-lineage"></span>
 
== The nickname lineage ==
Collector nicknames for the green Submariners track color combinations, not reference numbers.
 
* '''Kermit''' (16610LV): green bezel, black dial. Named for Kermit the Frog. The green bezel is aluminum and fades with age.
* '''Hulk''' (116610LV): green bezel, green dial. Named for the all-green look. The bezel is Cerachrom and stays green permanently.
* '''Starbucks''' or '''Cermit''' (126610LV): green bezel, black dial. "Cermit" combines "ceramic" and "Kermit." "Starbucks" comes from the green-and-black color scheme matching the coffee chain's palette.
 
The Hulk nickname stuck because the watch is green everywhere. That total commitment to green is what makes it visually different from its siblings, and it is what makes it polarizing. Some collectors find the full green too much. Others find it the most distinctive modern Submariner. There is no neutral position on the Hulk.
 
==Market and collector context==


The 116610LV has traded above the 116610LN on the secondary market since both were in production. Since discontinuation in 2020, the premium has widened significantly.
Collector nicknames for the green Submariners track color combinations rather than reference numbers. The Kermit (16610LV) pairs a green aluminum bezel with a black dial, named for the Muppet. The Hulk (116610LV) pairs a green Cerachrom bezel with a green sunburst dial, named for the all-green look. The Starbucks or Cermit (126610LV) returns to a green bezel and black dial. "Cermit" blends "ceramic" with "Kermit"; "Starbucks" comes from the green-and-black palette.


The numbers tell the story:
The Hulk nickname stuck because the watch is green everywhere. That commitment to green across the full face is what separates the reference visually from its siblings, and it is also what divides opinion among collectors. Some read the all-green as too much. Others read it as the most distinctive modern Submariner.


* '''116610LV secondary market''': approximately $23,600 USD (Sotheby's, late 2025)
<span id="special-editions"></span>
* '''126610LV retail (successor)''': $11,900 USD new
== Special editions ==
* '''Premium''': the Hulk trades at nearly double the retail price of its own successor


An extraordinary market position for a reference that originally retailed for a fraction of $23,600. The explanation is simple: the Hulk is the only green-dial Submariner ever made, production ended in 2020, and Rolex has shown no indication of reviving a green dial. The supply is fixed. The demand, from collectors who want the unique piece in the green Submariner lineage, is not.
A small number of 116610LV watches left production with engraved casebacks or retailer signatures tied to institutional or royal deliveries. The best documented are the Khanjar Hulks, delivered through Khimji Ramdas in Oman during the reign of Sultan Qaboos, who died in 2020. Khanjar examples carry the crossed-dagger emblem engraved on the caseback, with international guarantee paperwork stamped by Khimji Ramdas. Auction examples have appeared at Sotheby's with estimates in the USD 25,000 to 50,000 range, reflecting both the Hulk's standalone premium and the Omani royal provenance.


The 116610LV is not rare in an absolute sense. Forum consensus holds that Rolex made "quite a few" over the decade of production. The market premium reflects desirability and a fixed supply, not scarcity in the way that vintage references with genuinely small production runs are scarce.
Other retailer-signed or special-delivery 116610LV watches surface occasionally at auction, but none rises to the scale of a named series. The Khanjar examples are the one consistently-documented small branch of the reference outside standard production.


For comparison, the no-date steel 114060 trades at approximately $12,400 — the Hulk commands nearly double that as well, despite being a date model from the same broad era.
<span id="market-and-collector-context"></span>
== Market and collector context ==


The Hulk does not attract the lot-level auction attention at major houses that vintage Submariners receive. Market activity is primarily dealer and secondary retail. But within the modern Submariner collector community, no reference in the 116610 generation commands higher secondary market interest than the 116610LV.
The 116610LV has traded above the 116610LN on the secondary market since both were in production, and the premium widened after discontinuation in 2020. As of late 2025, Sotheby's data put the Hulk at about USD 23,600, close to double the USD 11,900 retail on its successor, the 126610LV.


==Sources==
The 116610LV is not rare in an absolute sense. Rolex did not publish production figures, but the decade-long run on a popular Submariner reference put a substantial volume into circulation. The premium reflects desirability against a now-fixed supply rather than genuine scarcity of the kind that drives vintage references with small production runs. Market activity runs primarily through dealers and secondary retail rather than lot-level auction attention at the major houses.


* [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]
== Sources ==
* [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]
[[File:Ref 116610LV hero 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV]]
* Morning Tundra, "The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, Chevalier Edition", unknown
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-part-2-the-55xx-1680references/ History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2] — Tom Mulraney, Monochrome
* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-submariner-history.html unknown, "Bob's Watches Submariner history", Bob's Watches]
* [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
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [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 Kermit vs Starbucks] — Fratello
* [https://timeandtidewatches.com/year-rolex-submariner-116610lv-aka-hulk/ Rolex Submariner 116610LV Year-Long Review] — Andy Green, Time+Tide
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-date-41mm-kermit-126610lv-black-126610ln-hands-on-price/ Hands-On: Rolex Submariner Date 41mm Kermit 126610LV and 126610LN] — Brice Goulard, Monochrome
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-date-126610lv-in-depth-review-specs-price/ Rolex Submariner Date 126610LV In-Depth Review] — Brice Goulard, Monochrome
* [https://www.watchonista.com/articles/depth/rolex-submariner-2020-whats-actually-changed The Rolex Submariner in 2020: What Actually Changed] — Josh Shanks, Watchonista
* [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/rolex-submariner-116610lv-green-watch-review/ Rolex Submariner 116610LV In Green Watch Review] — aBlogtoWatch
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080220/116 Rolex Submariner Hulk Ref 116610LV Lot 116] — Phillips Geneva XII
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/important-watches/rolex-submariner-hulk-reference-116610lv-a-brand Rolex Submariner Hulk 116610LV Brand New Last Year] — Sotheby's
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/important-watches/reference-116610lv-submariner-khanjar-hulk-a Reference 116610LV Submariner Khanjar Hulk circa 2012] — Sotheby's
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/important-watches-9/reference-116610lv-submariner-hulk-a-stainless Reference 116610LV Submariner Hulk circa 2020] — Sotheby's
* [https://revolutionwatch.com/bourn-in-oman-the-rolex-collection/ Bourn in Oman: The Rolex Collection] — Ross Povey, Revolution
* [https://www.watchguys.com/pages/rolex-hulk-mark-1-3-differences Rolex Hulk Mark 1-3: A Guide to Dial Differences] — WatchGuys
* [https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/rolex-hulk/ Rolex Hulk Submariner: The Complete Guide] — Powerfunk, Luxury Bazaar
* [https://www.coronet.org/new-1minute-reads/rolex-production-numbers-submariner-new-book-official For the First Time Rolex Hints at Production Numbers] — Coronet / Foulkes 2024
* [https://www.everestbands.com/blogs/bezel-barrel/the-evolution-of-the-green-bezel-submariner The Evolution of the Green Bezel Submariner] — Jamie Morton, Everest Bands
* [https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-hulk/ Rolex Hulk Submariner 116610LV Complete Guide] — Millenary Watches
* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-submariner-history.html Bob's Watches Submariner history] — Bob's Watches
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=481824 116610LV Hulk: How many dial variations?] — RolexForums


[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:working-draft]]
[[Category:Working Draft]]
[[Category:References]]

Latest revision as of 04:20, 30 April 2026


Submariner -> 116610LV

The 116610LV is the green-dial, green-bezel Submariner Date that collectors call the Hulk. Rolex introduced it in 2010 alongside the black 116610LN, replacing the 16610LV "Kermit," and ran the reference until 2020 when the 126610LV "Starbucks" took over. Case, movement, bracelet, and crystal are shared with the 116610LN. The bezel and dial are what set the Hulk apart, and what carry the market.

The Hulk is a one-generation anomaly. Every other green-bezel Submariner pairs the green bezel with a black dial. The Hulk pairs a green Cerachrom ceramic bezel with a green sunburst dial, the only Submariner that commits to green on both surfaces. When the reference left production in 2020, the green Submariner dial left with it.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV
Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV

Core facts

detail value
reference 116610LV
nickname Hulk
family Submariner Date
production 2010 to 2020
movement caliber 3135 (COSC, ~48hr power reserve)
case 40mm 904L Oystersteel, Maxi Case, ~12.5mm thick, ~48mm lug-to-lug
crystal sapphire with Cyclops, anti-reflective inner coating
water resistance 300m / 1000ft
bezel green Cerachrom ceramic, unidirectional 60-click, platinum PVD numerals
bracelet Oyster with Oysterlock clasp and Glidelock
lume Chromalight (blue)
dial green sunburst, white gold Maxi markers
crown Triplock screw-down with guards
predecessor 16610LV "Kermit"
successor 126610LV "Starbucks" / "Cermit"

Where it sits in the line

The 116610LV is the green variant within the 116610 generation of the Submariner Date, sitting parallel to the black-bezel 116610LN. The two references share case, movement, bracelet, crystal, and crown. Only bezel color and dial color differ.

Green Submariner lineage

The green-bezel Submariner has run continuously since 2003, and each generation has given the concept its own treatment. The Hulk is the outlier.

reference nickname years bezel material bezel color dial
16610LV Kermit 2003–2010 aluminum green (fades) black
116610LV Hulk 2010–2020 Cerachrom ceramic green (permanent) green sunburst
126610LV Starbucks / Cermit 2020–present Cerachrom ceramic green (permanent) black

The Kermit established the green-bezel Submariner as a collector reference in 2003 on a black dial and aluminum bezel. The Hulk replaced it in 2010 with the ceramic bezel generation and added a green sunburst dial. The Starbucks replaced the Hulk in 2020 and walked the dial back to black while keeping the green Cerachrom.

Production outline

Rolex introduced the 116610LV at Baselworld 2010 as the direct replacement for the Kermit. The Hulk carried the same generational upgrades as the 116610LN: Cerachrom bezel, Maxi Case, Glidelock bracelet, and Chromalight lume. Caliber 3135 stayed throughout. No mid-run dial or bezel variants are known.

Production ended in September 2020 when Rolex replaced the Hulk with the 126610LV "Starbucks" at the postponed 2020 novelties announcement. The successor moved the line to a 41mm case and caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.

Movement notes

Caliber 3135 throughout, identical to the 116610LN. COSC-certified automatic, 28,800 vph, about 48 hours of power reserve, Parachrom blue hairspring. The successor 126610LV moved to caliber 3235 with a 70-hour reserve. That is the principal functional upgrade between the two generations.

Dial map

The green sunburst dial is the feature the Hulk is named for. In low light it reads almost black. In direct sun it turns vivid green. Paired with the wide Maxi case, the dial gives the watch a heavier visual presence than the Kermit at the same nominal size.

What makes the green dial unique

The sunburst finish is specific to the Submariner. It is not a Day-Date green dial dropped into a diver case. Collector accounts describe the lacquer as containing gold and aluminum particles, which would help explain its depth and the way it shifts under different light. The dial reads against the green Cerachrom bezel as a single monochromatic field, an effect no other Rolex sport watch carries.

Collector research usually splits the Hulk dial into three print generations across the decade. The differences are real but subtle. Production was high enough that the market premium tracks desirability rather than scarcity.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

Detail view
Detail view

Case

Identical to the 116610LN: 40mm in 904L Oystersteel in Maxi Case (or "Super Case") format, with wider lugs, no lug holes, and a solid fluted screw-down caseback. Approximately 12.5mm thick, 48mm lug-to-lug.

Bezel

Green Cerachrom ceramic, unidirectional 60-click, with platinum PVD numerals and graduations. The green ceramic does not fade or develop patina the way the green aluminum insert on the Kermit did. Kermit bezel fading is a feature collectors track and price, with well-faded examples commanding a premium. On the Hulk the color stays put.

Green Cerachrom is widely understood to be the hardest of the colored ceramics for Rolex to produce consistently, with a proprietary pigment formula and tighter sintering tolerances than the black or blue inserts. The same green Cerachrom carries forward onto the successor 126610LV. What changes across the generation is the dial.

Crystal

Sapphire with Cyclops at 3 o'clock and anti-reflective inner coating. Same as the 116610LN.

Crown

Triplock screw-down with crown guards, rated to 300m / 1000ft.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Bracelet

Oyster bracelet with solid links, Oysterlock clasp, and Glidelock extension. Same specification as the 116610LN, with roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment in 2mm increments. Oysterlock is the locking safety clasp used across the modern Professional line. Glidelock is the in-clasp, on-the-fly length adjustment.

Packaging

Standard Rolex green box of the 2010s era with warranty card, COSC tag, booklets, and hang tags. No known packaging differences between the 116610LV and 116610LN.

The nickname lineage

Collector nicknames for the green Submariners track color combinations rather than reference numbers. The Kermit (16610LV) pairs a green aluminum bezel with a black dial, named for the Muppet. The Hulk (116610LV) pairs a green Cerachrom bezel with a green sunburst dial, named for the all-green look. The Starbucks or Cermit (126610LV) returns to a green bezel and black dial. "Cermit" blends "ceramic" with "Kermit"; "Starbucks" comes from the green-and-black palette.

The Hulk nickname stuck because the watch is green everywhere. That commitment to green across the full face is what separates the reference visually from its siblings, and it is also what divides opinion among collectors. Some read the all-green as too much. Others read it as the most distinctive modern Submariner.

Special editions

A small number of 116610LV watches left production with engraved casebacks or retailer signatures tied to institutional or royal deliveries. The best documented are the Khanjar Hulks, delivered through Khimji Ramdas in Oman during the reign of Sultan Qaboos, who died in 2020. Khanjar examples carry the crossed-dagger emblem engraved on the caseback, with international guarantee paperwork stamped by Khimji Ramdas. Auction examples have appeared at Sotheby's with estimates in the USD 25,000 to 50,000 range, reflecting both the Hulk's standalone premium and the Omani royal provenance.

Other retailer-signed or special-delivery 116610LV watches surface occasionally at auction, but none rises to the scale of a named series. The Khanjar examples are the one consistently-documented small branch of the reference outside standard production.

Market and collector context

The 116610LV has traded above the 116610LN on the secondary market since both were in production, and the premium widened after discontinuation in 2020. As of late 2025, Sotheby's data put the Hulk at about USD 23,600, close to double the USD 11,900 retail on its successor, the 126610LV.

The 116610LV is not rare in an absolute sense. Rolex did not publish production figures, but the decade-long run on a popular Submariner reference put a substantial volume into circulation. The premium reflects desirability against a now-fixed supply rather than genuine scarcity of the kind that drives vintage references with small production runs. Market activity runs primarily through dealers and secondary retail rather than lot-level auction attention at the major houses.

Sources

Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV
Rolex Submariner Ref. 116610LV
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