Rolex
Submariner Date
16610LV
The "Kermit" — Rolex's bold green salute to fifty years of the Submariner.
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Overview
The Rolex Submariner Date reference 16610LV is among the most recognisable variants in the Submariner lineage, distinguished by its vivid green anodised aluminium bezel insert paired with a classic black dial. Introduced in 2003 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Submariner line, it retained the proven 40 mm stainless steel case and the reliable Calibre 3135 automatic movement. Its unconventional colour combination earned it the enduring collector nickname "Kermit," a moniker that has become inseparable from the reference.
History
The 16610LV was unveiled at Baselworld 2003 as a jubilee edition celebrating half a century of the Submariner, making it one of the few references in the line to carry an explicit commemorative purpose. It was built on the established 16610 platform, differing principally in the green bezel insert — a first for the Submariner family at the time. Production continued until approximately 2010, when Rolex retired the reference in favour of the redesigned 40 mm Submariner generation. During its production run it occupied a singular position: simultaneously a current-catalogue sports watch and a piece with immediate anniversary significance.
Notable points
- The green anodised aluminium bezel insert was unprecedented for the Submariner line at the time of its 2003 introduction, setting the 16610LV apart from every preceding reference.
- The "Kermit" nickname — a nod to the Muppets character — was coined by collectors almost immediately after release and remains the reference's most widely used informal designation.
- Power is supplied by the Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a bi-directional rotor, Parachrom hairspring, and a date complication, long regarded as a benchmark in robust sports-watch movements.
- The 40 mm stainless steel case follows the same dimensional language as the standard 16610, meaning the anniversary distinction is carried entirely by the bezel rather than any change in case architecture.
- When Rolex introduced the ceramic-bezel Submariner generation, the 16610LV was discontinued, lending the reference a defined and finite production window that has reinforced its collectibility.
