Rolex Kermit

About the Rolex Kermit

Characterized by a green bezel and black dial, the original Submariner Kermit made its debut in honor of the Submariner's 50th anniversary. After seven years of production, Rolex said goodbye to the Kermit, replacing it with a model featuring a matching green bezel and dial combo. A decade later, the green and black Submariner returned to the Rolex catalog - but it's now known as the Ceramic Kermit thanks to its Cerachrom bezel.

Submariner Kermit History

Introduced in 1953, the Rolex Submariner is the world's most famous dive watch. For the first five decades of the watch's history, all stainless steel versions came exclusively with a black bezel.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Submariner in 2003, Rolex broke tradition and introduced a stainless steel Submariner Date ref. 16610LV with a never-before-seen green aluminum bezel. LV is short for the French words "Lunette Verte," which translates to "Green Bezel." The green Submariner became affectionately known as the Kermit among enthusiasts and it was in production for about seven years. It was then replaced in 2010 by the Submariner ref. 116610LV (nicknamed the "Hulk") sporting a green Cerachrom ceramic bezel and matching green dial.

In 2020, Rolex launched a new generation Submariner collection with larger 41mm cases and new movements. As expected, the Rolex watches introduced for this model included a new Submariner Date LV in the mix. Yet in a surprising twist, the brand paired the green Cerachrom bezel with a black dial, thus heralding the return of the Submariner Kermit. Yet, to differentiate it from the original 2003 Kermit, enthusiasts have taken to calling the new ref. 12610LV the Ceramic Kermit (or Cermit for short.)

• 2003: Rolex introduces the Submariner ref. 16610LV "Kermit"
• 2010: Rolex discontinues the Submariner Kermit
• 2020: Rolex releases the Submariner ref. 126610LV "Ceramic Kermit"

Submariner Kermit References, Features, and Options

The two Rolex references that are commonly called Submariner Kermit include:

• Submariner Date ref. 16610LV
• Submariner Date ref. 126610LV

Regardless of the specific reference number, Rolex Submariner Kermit watches are exclusively available in stainless steel and feature green unidirectional bezels and black dial. As Submariner Date versions, they include a date window at 3 o'clock, topped by a Cyclops magnification lens protruding from the sapphire crystal shielding the dial. Like all modern Subs, the dials of the Kermit have luminous Mercedes-style hands and a mix of luminous rectangular, circular, and triangular hour markers.

They may share similar nicknames but the discontinued Kermit and the brand new Ceramic Kermit have a slew of differences to note.

Submariner Kermit 16610LV vs. Submariner Kermit 126610LV

Buying Submariner Kermit Pre-Owned vs. New

If you're looking to add the 50th Anniversary Submariner Kermit ref. 16610LV to your collection, then the pre-owned market is the only viable route as Rolex no longer manufactures it. The popularity of the Submariner Kermit has surged in recent years, which has of course increased its value in the collector market. Prices for a pre-owned Submariner Kermit 16610LV starts at $14,995.

While the latest Submariner Ceramic Kermit ref. 126110LV retails for $9,950, as with almost all steel Rolex sports watches, the lack of adequate supply to meet booming demand has paved the way for years-long waitlists at authorized dealers and much higher resale values in the secondary market. The Submariner ref. 126110LV is currently valued at more than double its official retail price and it is not uncommon to find it priced around $20,000 in the pre-owned watch market.

Rolex Kermit Reference Number(s):

16610LV

Years Rolex Kermit was Produced:

2004 - 2011

Rolex Kermit Nickname Origin:

In 2004, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their iconic Submariner line of dive watches, Rolex released the reference 16610LV. This anniversary edition marks the introduction of Rolex’s Maxi dial, which features larger, luminous hour markers than its predecessors.

The reference 16610LV gets its "Kermit" nickname from its black dial with large white hour markers, and green aluminum bezel insert. This combination of features gives the watch a visual appearance that is somewhat reminiscent of Sesame Street’s famous, green frog character, complete with his large, black and white eyes. Do not miss out on our full collection of Subs. Browse additional references by visiting our used Rolex Submariner Certified Pre-Owned watches for sale page.

Rolex Kermit Celebrity Associations:

Cameron Diaz, Prince Frederick of Denmark, Mark McGrath, Jonathan Warburton

Unique Features for the Rolex Kermit

A black, "Maxi" dial, paired with a green aluminum bezel insert with a 60-minute scale.