THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 16610LV
YEAR: 2003
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

In 2003, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Submariner, Rolex released the reference 16610LV. The “LV” stands for Lunette Verte, meaning “green bezel.” This was the first Rolex to feature a green bezel and, shortly after its release, it was aptly nicknamed the “Kermit.” Now considered neo-vintage, the model shows far more variation across its production run than most modern Rolexes. Let’s take a closer look.

During its seven-year tenure, the Kermit was produced with five bezel variants and five dial variants, plus a service dial—an impressive number of subtle changes for a watch of this era. Of the bezels, two feature the infamous “flat four” font, with one often fading to a lighter shade of green than the other. The remaining three bezels have slimmer “4s” and progressively darker tones of green, with the final B5 bezel resembling the modern “Starbucks” colour.

The dials were also subject to minor evolutions. From the “Swiss Made” signature shifting from wide to narrow, to spacing adjustments and font changes, the Kermit offers a variety of details rarely seen in a five-digit reference.

The watch we have here is arguably the most desirable Kermit. It features a MK1 dial and a non-serif flat four bezel that has aged into a striking lime colour, which really pops against the glossy black dial with Maxi markers. The case has been lightly polished in the past but remains very strong. The original full-link, CL-stamped bracelet is in equally good condition with no stretch.

The movement came to us in excellent health, running at +1 s/d, 310 amplitude, with a beat error of just 0.1 ms. It comes as a complete set, including its original inner and outer boxes, booklets, wallet, calendar, tags, and guarantee. A beautiful lime Kermit you simply can’t fault.