Kermit, Hulk, Starbucks: The Green Submariners Explained
Rolex's corporate color is green, so it's fitting that its green Submariners have the most devoted fans. Rolex never calls them by these nicknames. Collectors do, and you'll hear all three at any Chicago watch counter. Here's the cheat sheet.
Kermit: ref. 16610LV (2003–2010)
- Bezel: green aluminum
- Dial: black
- Why it exists: released for the Submariner's 50th anniversary
- Tell: the bright, slightly lime green bezel against a black dial
The original green Sub. Later production gave it larger "Maxi" hour markers, which collectors track closely. If you see one at a pre-owned dealer, ask which dial variant it has.
Hulk: ref. 116610LV (2010–2020)
- Bezel: green ceramic (Cerachrom)
- Dial: green sunburst
- Tell: green on green. The dial shifts from emerald to almost black depending on the light.
The boldest Submariner Rolex has made. Its discontinuation in 2020 turned it into a fast favorite on the pre-owned market.
Starbucks (also called "Cermit" or the new Kermit): ref. 126610LV (2020–)
- Bezel: green ceramic
- Dial: black
- Case: current 41mm generation
- Tell: darker, deeper green than the original Kermit, paired with a black dial
The current green Submariner, and the one you can register interest in at an official retailer.
Quick ID table
| Nickname | Reference | Bezel | Dial | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kermit | 16610LV | Green aluminum | Black | 2003–2010 |
| Hulk | 116610LV | Green ceramic | Green | 2010–2020 |
| Starbucks | 126610LV | Green ceramic | Black | 2020– |
Which should you buy?
- Want new, with the five-year guarantee? Only the Starbucks is in production, so it's an official retailer and a waitlist.
- Want history? The Kermit is the original and the first green Sub.
- Want the loudest one? The Hulk, from a pre-owned dealer.
Ask any of our pre-owned dealers what greens they've had come through lately; inventory turns over fast.