The Rolex Submariner 16610LV is the green-bezel "Kermit," released in 2003 for the Submariner's 50th anniversary. If you are shopping for a fake Rolex Submariner 16610LV, here is the short answer: replica makers have the silhouette down, but the bezel color, the maxi dial, and the crown guards are where most versions fall apart. Expect to pay $400 to $600 for a good one. Below that, you are buying a shape, not a watch.
What the 16610LV Actually Is
LV stands for lunette verte, French for green bezel. Rolex took the standard 16610 Submariner Date, dropped in a green anodized aluminum insert, and enlarged the hour markers to what collectors call a maxi dial. Same 40mm steel case, same 300m rating, same Oyster bracelet as the black-bezel version. Production ran from 2003 to 2010.
That seven-year window matters when you compare replicas. Early examples have drilled lug holes and a plain inner ring. Later ones have solid lugs and ROLEX ROLEX engraving around the rehaut. A watch with drilled lugs and a rehaut engraving is mixing two production eras, which is a tell worth catching before you pay.
Specs to Compare Against
- Case: 40mm stainless steel, roughly 12.5mm thick with the crystal
- Movement: Caliber 3135, 28,800 vph, about 48 hours of power reserve
- Bezel: green aluminum insert, unidirectional, 120 clicks
- Bracelet: Oyster 93250 with solid end links and a flip-lock clasp
- Weight: about 130 to 140 grams fully linked
The Bezel Is the Hard Part
Green anodized aluminum is fussy to copy. Genuine inserts have a deep, slightly olive tone that shifts as light moves across it. Cheap replicas use a flat, minty green that reads painted on, and the numbers look silk-screened rather than etched into the metal. Look closely at the 4 in the 40 marker. Early 16610LV inserts used a flat-topped 4, later ones a pointed 4, and collectors pay up for the flat version. Replica makers usually get this wrong or pick one and use it across every batch.
Dial and Markers
The maxi dial is the second giveaway. Marker size, lume color, and hand width all need to match. On a good replica, the lume is a clean off-white and the markers sit flat against the dial. On a weak one, the lume is chalky, the marker edges are soft, and the date sits too far from the cyclops. Check the 2.5x magnification of the cyclops and the printing of SUBMARINER and 1000ft = 300m. Text should be crisp and evenly spaced, not cramped toward the center.
Case, Crown Guards, and Movement
The 16610 has a distinct crown guard profile: slim, tapered, and slightly asymmetric from the side. Replicas often come in with guards that are too thick or too blunt, which changes how the whole watch sits on the wrist. Ask for side-profile photos, not just a straight-on shot.
Most 16610LV replicas run a 3135 clone. The common ones are the SA3135, SH3135, and VR3135. The VR3135 has the best reputation for a smooth wind and a clean date flip. Ask which movement is inside, and ask whether the watch was pressure tested. A claimed 300m rating on a replica is marketing until someone puts it on a tester.
Bracelet and Clasp
The 93250 Oyster bracelet should have solid end links that sit tight against the case with no visible gap. Replica clasps often have shallow engraving and a stiff flip-lock. Run the clasp a few times. It should open and close with a firm snap, not a grind. Also check the spring bars. Cheap ones bend and let the bracelet rattle.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Bezel green in daylight and indoors, not just under store lighting
- Marker size and lume color compared to reference photos
- Crown guard profile from the side
- End link fit and clasp action
- Movement name and service history
- Water resistance testing, or plan to have it done yourself
Price and Expectations
A well-built 16610LV replica runs $400 to $600. That buys a correct case shape, a VR3135, and a bezel insert that holds up to a close look. Anything under $150 is a fashion watch with a Rolex logo. Nothing in this tier is a genuine watch, so treat it as a hobby piece, not an investment, and do not try to pass it off as the real thing. Buy from a seller who answers questions about movements and case details. If they dodge, move on.