The History of the Colour Green on the Rolex Submariner

If you had to associate a colour to the Rolex brand, it's without a doubt that the first colour that comes to mind is green. Likewise, if someone were to ask you the most popular model from Rolex, the Submariner is most likely the watch that comes to mind. This blog post takes a look at the history of the use of the colour green on the Rolex Submariner.

History of the Submariner

The Rolex Submariner was released back in 1953 and was the first diving watch resistant to 100m. It became an iconic model, worn by legends such as Steve McQueen, as well as Sean Connery and Roger Moore as they played the role of James Bond. 

James Bond actors Sean Connery and Roger Moore wearing the Submariner

2003: Introduction of the Green Bezel for Rolex's 50th Anniversary

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of one of the brand's most iconic models, Rolex introduced the reference 16610LV in 2003, dubbed the “Kermit” by collectors. The LV in the reference number stands for "Lunette Verte", which means green bezel in French. This is the first time a green bezel appeared on the Submariner - a very unorthodox move at the time.

2010: Introduction of the Green Sunburst Dial on the Submariner

The "Kermit" was discontinued in 2010 and the watch world was presented with the 116610LV, or better known as the “Hulk”, a full green Submariner with sunburst dial. The hulk had a 10-year run and was discontinued in 2020, to be replaced with the 126610LV.

2020: The Modern Rolex Submariner with Green Bezel (126610LV)

The 126610LV is special because it a modern, improved version of the Submariner, bearing the black and green theme of the original 50th anniversary Kermit, a watch favoured by many aficionados. Of course, as standard procedure for any popular Rolex model, it was to be nicknamed by collectors. The two most popular nicknames for this watch are "Cermit" and "Starbucks".

2023: Change of Bezel Colour on the 126610LV

This year at Watches & Wonders, Rolex silently modified the colour of the bezel to one more identical to that of the original "Kermit", whilst keeping the reference the same. Therefore, we now have two different bezel colours on the 126610LV, known as the "Mark 1" and "Mark 2". The "Mark 1” is no longer in production.

Which is your favourite green Rolex Submariner? 

Check out a full review of the Rolex Submariner 126610LV on the Distinct Timepieces YouTube channel: