Rolex Submariner 16610LV ‘Kermit’: Slim-Lug Sub with Green Bezel and Maxi Dial

Introduction

The Rolex Submariner 16610LV—widely known as the ‘Kermit’—pairs the classic 40mm Oyster case and black dial with a vivid green aluminium bezel insert and a maxi dial. Conceived to honour a milestone in the Submariner line, it keeps the watch firmly anchored in its tool-first brief. The result is a configuration that looks unmistakably Submariner at arm’s length, yet reads fresher on the wrist thanks to enlarged hour plots, a broader handset and that distinctive green ring.

Design Purpose and Identity

Rolex didn’t reinvent the Submariner here; it refined it. The ‘Kermit’ keeps the case lean, the flanks brushed, the crown guards crisp, and focuses the visual update where it matters most for identity and function—on the dial and bezel. The enlarged markers and bolder hands boost legibility at a glance, while the green aluminium insert frames the information layer without competing with it. This is colour used with discipline: the bezel does the talking, the dial does the work.

Green Aluminium Bezel Explained

Aluminium behaves differently to ceramic. Under shade it reads deep forest; in bright sun it brightens with a soft satin sheen. That dynamic character is a large part of the ‘Kermit’s’ appeal. It avoids mirror-like reflections, keeps typography crisp, and ensures the bezel remains a functional 60-minute timing scale rather than a purely decorative ring. The coin-edge grip is positive, the inverted triangle at zero houses a luminous pip, and the scale remains legible at oblique angles—useful underwater and just as handy for daily timing.

Maxi Dial and Legibility

The maxi dial is the practical shift that defines this reference. Larger plots in white-gold surrounds, a wider minute hand and a long central seconds hand that reaches the hashes all shorten the time your eyes spend hunting for information. Against a matte black base with crisp white print, the read is immediate in mixed light. The minute/seconds track stays uninterrupted and precise, so timing is simple whether you’re checking safety stops or a short interval.

Case, Dimensions and Ergonomics

The 16610LV uses the late-classic Submariner profile: approximately 40mm in diameter, around 13mm thick, a lug-to-lug span near 48mm and 20mm between the lugs. Slim, tapered lugs are the quiet hero here—they keep overhang in check and help the head sit planted. The mid-case curves gently without slab sides, brushing transitions to polished crown-guard bevels at crisp, well-defined edges, and the watch wears compact, centred and purposeful. On wrist, the broad dial and narrow bezel wall give presence without bulk.

Crown, Crystal and Water Resistance

A Triplock screw-down crown anchors the dive spec, threading smoothly with clear stops as the seals take up. A flat sapphire crystal resists scratches and carries a Cyclops at three for instant date legibility. The crystal height sits just proud of the polished inner bevel of the bezel assembly, controlling glare while preserving the familiar Submariner profile. Rated to 300 metres, the case construction prioritises reliability and control rather than headline numbers, which is exactly the point for a watch intended to be used.

Bezel Feel and Timing Use

The unidirectional bezel turns with firm, even clicks and a grippy coin edge you can operate with wet hands. Resistance is deliberate enough to avoid accidental movement yet smooth enough to invite frequent use. The luminous zero marker keeps timing clear in low light, and the 60-minute scale is printed to an even weight that remains readable in glare, shade and under artificial light.

Dial Details and Night Visibility

The dial keeps to Submariner grammar: matte black ground, white printed minute/seconds track, applied plots in white-gold surrounds and a restrained text stack. The applied coronet at 12 anchors the layout; the maxi handset and markers pull your eye instantly to the information. In daylight the contrasts are high and unfussy; at dusk the shift to luminous readout is clean.

Typography and Rehaut

Text spacing is tight and consistent, with the line weights balanced to avoid crowding. Later production adds an engraved rehaut with repeating ROLEX text and the serial at six, introducing a subtle sense of depth around the dial edge without stealing attention from the hands and track. Alignment is deliberate throughout: the minute hashes meet the rehaut neatly, and the seconds hand reaches the outer ring with intent.

Lume Behaviour

Super-LumiNova is used for this era, reading neutral by day and emitting a strong, even glow once charged. Large plots and broad hands mean the luminous layer does real work: hours separate clearly from minutes, and the long central seconds is easy to locate without bathing the dial in light. Under street lamps or in a dim cabin, the display remains coherent and predictable.

Calibre 3135 Movement

Inside is Rolex calibre 3135, a self-winding, COSC-certified movement running at 28,800 vph with a reserve of roughly two days. It uses a free-sprung balance regulated by Microstella screws and a blue Parachrom hairspring designed to shrug off magnetism and temperature swings. Hacking seconds allows precise setting; quickset date keeps daily use simple; hand-winding is smooth and positive with a reassuring crown feel.

Architecture and Regulation

A free-sprung balance avoids an index regulator, favouring long-term stability. Microstella adjustment makes fine regulation precise, and the Parachrom alloy helps the oscillation remain centred as the environment changes. Tight tolerances through the gear train and escapement support healthy amplitude across positions, which is why the 3135 is known for steady rate behaviour rather than novelty.

In-Use Experience

On the wrist the 3135 is effectively invisible—which is the point. It starts easily after a brief wind, keeps an even rate through a working day, and turns over the date with a crisp jump near midnight. Crown action is deliberate, the stem feels secure, and the interface encourages confident use rather than caution. It’s a movement that suits a watch moving between desk and deck without ceremony.

Bracelet and Clasp

The ‘Kermit’ is paired with the Oyster 93250 bracelet featuring solid end links that seat firmly between the lugs for a rattle-free fit. Link articulation is smooth, top brushing is tight and directional, and polished flanks pick up the case shoulders cleanly. The taper keeps visual weight in check so the bracelet supports the head rather than overpowering it, maintaining the slim-lug stance that many find so wearable.

Adjustability and Extension

Inside the Oysterlock clasp, multiple micro-adjust holes allow quick fine-tuning. A flip-out diver’s extension gives an instant length jump for layering over neoprene or thicker outerwear. The clasp’s long footprint spreads pressure across the underside of the wrist, contributing to all-day comfort without hotspots. Everything is engineered to be used frequently, not set once and forgotten.

Wearability and Balance

Slim lugs, a shallow caseback and a sensibly tapered bracelet combine to kill the top-heavy feel some divers can develop. The watch slides under cuffs, centres naturally and feels like equipment rather than jewellery—exactly the intent behind the Submariner line. The articulation helps the bracelet drape rather than fight the wrist, so the head stays planted even during more active wear.

Position in the Submariner Timeline

This reference sits at a meaningful crossroads. It retains the classic, slim-lug silhouette of the aluminium-bezel generation yet introduces the maxi dial scale that became the modern norm. It reads as “traditional Submariner” in profile while presenting a more assertive, highly legible face. In practical terms, it bridges eras: the feel of the older case with the readability improvements that followed.

Before and After Comparison

Earlier aluminium-insert Subs used smaller plots and slimmer hands; later ceramic-bezel models shifted to a broader “maxi case”, revised bracelet architecture and ceramic rings. The ‘Kermit’ threads the needle: classic stance, modern dial, aluminium’s warmer light play and familiar proportions that keep the watch easy to wear all day. If you like the look of later dial furniture but prefer the feel of the earlier case, this configuration sits squarely in that lane.

Variants and Insert Traits

Bezel inserts show natural shade variance across production. Early rings are often associated with a “flat four” at 40, later rings with a different numeral profile and tone. These are dial-side cues rather than quality judgements; the core proposition—green aluminium framing a black maxi dial—remains unchanged. Rehaut engraving timing also varies by production window, adding another small detail to place an example in context without altering the wearing experience.

Daily Wear Scenarios and Styling

On steel, the 16610LV looks sharp in a tailored setting; off-duty it reads relaxed and purposeful. The green bezel pairs naturally with navy, charcoal and olive. Because the dial remains monochrome, outfit colours don’t fight the watch; the bezel is a perimeter accent rather than the focus. The compact height and short lugs keep it from snagging under knit cuffs or jacket sleeves, and the matte dial avoids the glare that can make some sports watches feel fussy indoors.

Office to Weekend

At the desk the watch slips under a sleeve; outdoors the aluminium insert avoids harsh reflections and the maxi dial stays legible in bright sun or overcast. The bezel’s grip makes timing quick for anything from a parking meter to a coffee brew. On a flight, micro-adjustments in the clasp take seconds as your wrist changes with temperature and altitude. It’s a watch built to be worn constantly, not coddled.

Strap Options

The 20mm spacing makes strap swaps easy if you want a different vibe—black calf to reduce sheen, grey or taupe leather to soften contrast, or a fabric option for weekends. That said, the 93250’s fit and taper are so well judged that many keep the bracelet in place; it balances the head, preserves the classic line, and offers the most versatile look for mixed environments.

Practical Diving Features

This remains a capable dive instrument. The 300m rating, Triplock crown, unidirectional bezel and high-contrast dial all serve the brief in cold, wet, low-light conditions. The diver’s extension is simple and robust when you need to jump length, and the luminous zero pip plus large plots keep safety stops and intervals easy to track. The package is engineered for control and clarity rather than theatre.

Aluminium vs Ceramic in the Field

Aluminium’s lighter mass and softer sheen bring real-world advantages: less glare over water, typography that stays legible at angles, and a surface that can be refreshed if it picks up life marks. Ceramic has its strengths, but the ‘Kermit’ leverages aluminium’s practicality to good effect. It’s a choice that supports the Submariner’s core mission—clear timing under varying conditions.

Readability Under Different Light

From office downlights to direct sun, the maxi dial’s hierarchy holds. White hands over a black ground with clear indexing is a formula that works. At night the large luminous plots and broad hands come into their own; you glance, you read, you move on. The Cyclops remains useful after dark as the date sits close to the luminous minute track, making orientation intuitive.

Reference Highlights

Reference 16610LV ‘Kermit’ with Oystersteel case around 40mm, approximately 13mm thick, ~48mm lug-to-lug and 20mm lugs. Green aluminium unidirectional bezel with luminous pip, coin-edge grip and crisp 60-minute scale. Flat sapphire with Cyclops at three over a black maxi dial with Super-LumiNova and applied markers in white-gold surrounds. Calibre 3135 automatic with free-sprung balance, Microstella regulation, blue Parachrom hairspring, hacking seconds and quickset date. Oyster 93250 bracelet with solid end links, Oysterlock clasp, micro-adjust holes and flip-out diver’s extension. Later production often features engraved rehaut with ROLEX text and serial at six.

Final Thoughts

The Submariner 16610LV ‘Kermit’ shows how a single, well-judged change can refresh an icon without diluting its purpose. Keep the classic slim-lug case, boost legibility with a maxi dial, frame it with a green aluminium bezel, and let everything else do its job. It wears balanced, reads instantly and brings a distinct identity to the Submariner lineage while staying true to the watch’s core role as a clear, capable dive instrument.

The stainless-steel case presents as very lightly polished, with factory brushing still clearly visible across the lugs and flanks. Edge definition remains sharp, and there are no notable deep marks evident. The clasp has been polished; surface shows light handling marks commensurate with careful wear.

Flawless maxi dial and flawless hands.