The Short Answer

A counterfeit 16610LV is not a discount version of a Rolex, it is a different product wearing the same outline. The genuine reference pairs an Oystersteel case, a green anodized aluminium bezel insert, a Maxi dial, and the Rolex calibre 3135. A fake cannot match that combination of materials, movement, and provenance, and it carries legal risk: US law makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a crime, and Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments. If you want the look and the long term value, buy the real reference from a reputable dealer or a documented Submariner style watch from an established brand. If you are here to learn the reference so you can avoid fakes, the sections below cover the details that separate the original from the copies.

What the 16610LV Actually Is

Rolex released reference 16610LV in 2003 to mark 50 years of the Submariner. The "LV" stands for lunette verte, French for green bezel, and collectors nicknamed the watch the Kermit. It stayed in the catalog until 2010, when the ceramic bezel 116610LV took its place.

• Case: 40 mm Oyster case in Oystersteel, 300 m (1,000 ft) water resistance rating.
• Bezel: green anodized aluminium insert with a luminous pearl; aluminium fades and patinas with wear while ceramic does not.
• Dial: black Maxi dial with larger hour markers and wider hands than the standard 16610.
• Movement: Rolex calibre 3135, automatic, roughly 48 hours of power reserve.
• Bracelet: steel Oyster bracelet with a flip lock clasp.

Because the LV shares its case, movement, and bracelet with the standard 16610, the green insert and Maxi dial are the main visual markers. That overlap is one reason copies flood the market: a counterfeiter only has to change a bezel and dial to make a base Submariner look like an anniversary model.

Parameter Bands to Check

Numbers give you a quick filter when you inspect any Submariner style watch, genuine or otherwise.

• Diameter: 40 mm, with roughly 20 mm lugs. A case that measures 42 mm or more is not a 16610 family watch.
• Thickness: about 12.5 to 13 mm. Thin cases often hide a quartz or low grade automatic movement.
• Movement beat rate: 28,800 vibrations per hour on the calibre 3135. A stuttering seconds hand on a watch sold as a Submariner points to a cheap movement.
• Crown position: Date versions have a crown at 3 o'clock and a date window with a cyclops magnifier.
• Weight: a steel watch on a full bracelet should feel substantial, not hollow. Hollow end links and rattling clasps are budget markers.

Pitfalls That Catch Buyers

• Unverified water resistance. A case that has never been pressure tested may leak the first time you swim with it, and a leak can ruin a movement.
• No service path. An authorized service center will not work on a counterfeit, and parts for third party movements can be hard to source.
• Shipping and seizure risk. Counterfeit goods are subject to detention and destruction by customs, and money lost to a seized parcel is rarely recovered.
• Resale value of zero. A fake has no collector market. A genuine 16610LV does, and condition, bezel insert variation, and complete sets drive that value.
• Photo trickery. Listings often use factory images or photos of a genuine watch. Ask for dated photos of the actual item with the serial area visible.
• Seller pressure. Deadlines, "last one" language, and requests for payment outside normal channels are warning signs.

FAQ

Is the 16610LV still in production?

No. Rolex discontinued it around 2010 and replaced it with the ceramic bezel 116610LV. Genuine examples now trade on the secondary market.

How do I tell an LV from a standard 16610?

The green aluminium bezel insert and the Maxi dial with larger markers and hands. The case, bracelet, and calibre 3135 are shared with the standard 16610.

Is it legal to buy a fake Rolex in the United States?

Trafficking in counterfeit goods, which includes selling, distributing, and importing them, is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Customs can seize and destroy counterfeit shipments, so a buyer can lose both the watch and the money paid for it.

Do replicas use real Rolex movements?

No. Rolex does not sell its calibres as loose parts. Replicas use third party automatic or quartz movements, sometimes with decorative plates made to resemble the calibre 3135.

What should I verify before buying a genuine 16610LV?

Reference and serial engravings between the lugs, movement condition through a watchmaker inspection, bracelet stretch, bezel insert originality, and any box, papers, or service records that come with the watch. Buy from a dealer with a return policy.