The Rolex Hulk: Complete Guide to the 116610LV in 2026
In 2010, Rolex introduced a Submariner unlike any before it. Both the dial and the bezel were green — a bold departure from the restrained aesthetic the Submariner had maintained for nearly sixty years. The watch community reacted with a mixture of surprise and skepticism. Some found the all-green combination too loud. Others recognized it immediately for what it was: something genuinely different in a line that almost never deviates from its own formula.
The watch community gave it a nickname almost immediately. The Hulk. And like the Marvel character it evokes, it turned out to be more powerful than anyone initially expected.
Today, six years after its discontinuation in 2020, the Rolex Submariner Date ref. 116610LV remains one of the most coveted discontinued sport watches on the secondary market — trading well above its original retail price, with no successor in its exact configuration ever produced. This is the complete guide to understanding what the Hulk is, why it matters, and what acquiring one looks like in 2026.
What Is the Rolex Hulk?
The Rolex Hulk is the official nickname for the Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LV — the only Submariner ever produced with both a green sunburst dial and a matching green Cerachrom ceramic bezel. The "LV" in the reference number stands for lunette verte — French for "green bezel."
It was introduced at Baselworld 2010 as the successor to the Kermit (ref. 16610LV) — a beloved Submariner that had celebrated the model's 50th anniversary in 2003 with a green aluminium bezel over a black dial. The Hulk took that green lineage further. Where the Kermit was green only at the bezel, the Hulk went all the way — a green bezel, a green dial, and a visual identity that was immediately recognizable and impossible to confuse with anything else in the Rolex lineup.
Production ran for exactly ten years, from 2010 to 2020, when Rolex discontinued the entire 116610 generation and replaced it with the new 41mm 126610 family. < cite index="62-1">Unlike the 116610LN, which was succeeded by the 126610LN in the same configuration, the Hulk was effectively retired. The successor 126610LV Starbucks uses a black dial with a green bezel — reverting to the older Kermit formula. No all-green-dial Submariner has been produced since.
That fact — ten years of production, no replacement, no return — is the foundation of everything that has happened to the Hulk's secondary market since.
The Green Submariner Lineage: Kermit, Hulk, Starbucks
Understanding the Hulk requires placing it within the broader green Submariner family — three references that share a bezel color but have very different identities.
The Kermit — Ref. 16610LV (2003–2010)
The original green Submariner, introduced for the 50th anniversary of the Submariner line. Black dial, green aluminium bezel — the formula that made the Kermit distinctive without being radical. Produced for seven years before being replaced by the Hulk. Today, the Kermit trades between $12,000 and $18,000 on the secondary market in excellent condition, respected by collectors for its historical significance and more classic aesthetic.
The Hulk — Ref. 116610LV (2010–2020)
The boldest green Submariner ever made. Green Cerachrom ceramic bezel — the first ceramic bezel on any green Submariner — paired with a green sunburst dial. The visual impact is immediate and unmistakable. Produced for ten years, then discontinued with no direct successor. < cite index="57-1">Hulk prices are hovering around $20,000 as of 2026, representing a significant premium over other modern Submariner prices. More on pricing below.
The Starbucks — Ref. 126610LV (2020–Present)
The current-production green Submariner. Named for the Starbucks coffee chain's green-and-black color scheme, the 126610LV returns to the Kermit formula: green bezel, black dial. It benefits from the updated 41mm case, Calibre 3235 movement with 70-hour power reserve, and wider Oyster bracelet of the current generation. It is the Hulk's technical successor — but not its aesthetic one. The Starbucks is a different watch with a different personality, and the secondary market prices it accordingly: typically $14,000–$18,000, below the discontinued Hulk.
Specifications: What Makes the Hulk Tick
The 116610LV is a 40mm Submariner at its core — the last generation of the 40mm case before Rolex moved to 41mm in 2020. Its specifications remain impressive by any standard:
Reference: 116610LV
Case: 40mm Oystersteel, 13mm thickness — the "super case" profile with slightly thicker lugs than previous generations
Dial: Green sunburst — the only all-green dial ever produced on a Submariner
Bezel: Green Cerachrom ceramic, unidirectional, 60-minute graduations in platinum
Bracelet: Oyster with Glidelock extension and solid end links
Movement: Calibre 3135, 48-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph, Parachrom hairspring
Water resistance: 300 meters
Production years: 2010–2020
Last retail price: ~$9,050 (2020, before discontinuation)
The Calibre 3135 — the movement that powered the 116610LV throughout its production — is one of the most reliable automatic movements Rolex has ever produced. It lacks the 70-hour power reserve of the current Calibre 3235, but its track record of accuracy and longevity over four decades of production is essentially unimpeachable.
The Hulk's Price History: From $9,000 to a Secondary Market Icon
Few watches illustrate the dynamics of the modern luxury watch secondary market as clearly as the Hulk.
2010–2019 — Gradual appreciation: The Hulk launched to a mixed reception. Its bold green-on-green aesthetic was polarizing, and initial secondary market prices tracked close to retail. By 2019, rumors of discontinuation began circulating, and prices started climbing — a familiar pattern in Rolex collecting, where the threat of scarcity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2020 — Discontinuation confirmed: When Rolex officially retired the 116610LV alongside the rest of the 40mm Submariner generation, prices moved sharply. The confirmation that no replacement with the same dial configuration would exist was the signal the market needed. < cite index="56-1">The last published MSRP before discontinuation was $9,350 for the 116610LV.
2021–2022 — The speculative peak: In the broader post-pandemic luxury watch frenzy, the Hulk became one of the most actively traded references on the secondary market. < cite index="58-1">While an unworn 116610LV cost around $32,000 in May 2022, the same model changed hands for roughly $26,000 a year later. At the absolute peak, examples crossed $40,000.
2023–2024 — Market correction: As the broader secondary market normalized from its speculative heights, the Hulk corrected alongside it — settling into a more sustainable range that reflected genuine collector demand rather than flipper momentum.
2026 — Stable and supported: < cite index="61-1">The current stable market in 2026 shows $16,000–$22,000 for excellent-condition examples with boxes and papers, with unworn or near-mint examples with full documentation reaching $27,000 or more. This represents a premium of roughly 75–200% over the 2020 retail price — sustained by the Hulk's permanently closed supply and its unique status as the only all-green-dial Submariner in Rolex history.
Hulk vs. Starbucks: Which Green Submariner Should You Buy?
For buyers considering the green Submariner family in 2026, the choice between the Hulk and the Starbucks is one of the most common and meaningful decisions in Rolex collecting. They are fundamentally different watches.
Choose the Hulk if:
You want the most visually distinctive Submariner ever produced — the only one with an all-green dial and bezel combination
You are drawn to discontinued references with permanently finite supply and proven secondary market resilience
You prefer the 40mm case size, which many collectors consider the ideal Submariner proportion
You want a watch with a documented and remarkable price history — and a story that is genuinely interesting to tell
You are comfortable acquiring pre-owned, from a trusted authenticated source
Choose the Starbucks if:
You prefer the current-generation movement — Calibre 3235 with 70-hour power reserve and improved escapement
You want a 41mm case and the updated bracelet and clasp of the 126610 generation
You prefer a black dial — the cleaner, more traditional Submariner aesthetic — with green only at the bezel
You want a current-production reference that can, in theory, be purchased new (though authorized dealer availability remains extremely limited)
The honest assessment: the Hulk is the more interesting watch from a collector's perspective, and the Starbucks is the more practical one from a daily wear standpoint. Both are exceptional. The right choice depends on what you value more — rarity and story, or current technology and availability.
The Hulk as a Reference Point for Discontinued Rolex Values
Beyond its own merits, the Hulk has become something more in the collector community: a template for understanding how discontinued Rolex sport watches behave on the secondary market over time.
< cite index="62-1">After the April 2026 discontinuation of the steel Rolex Pepsi (126710BLRO) at Watches and Wonders Geneva, the Hulk's trajectory since 2020 is the reference point most dealers and collectors use to forecast Pepsi pricing through 2026 and beyond. The pattern is consistent: discontinuation confirmation, initial price spike, speculative peak, correction to a stable premium, long-term structural support driven by finite supply.
Understanding the Hulk's price history is not just useful for Hulk buyers. It is the single best case study available for any collector trying to understand what happens to a desirable Rolex reference when production stops permanently.
What to Look for When Buying a Pre-Owned Hulk
The 116610LV is among the most counterfeited Rolex references — a direct consequence of its desirability and the prices it commands. Buying through an authenticated source is non-negotiable. Beyond authenticity, several condition factors significantly affect both value and enjoyment:
Dial condition: The green sunburst dial is the Hulk's defining feature. Look for consistent color, no fading or discoloration near the edges, and clean lume plots without chips or spillage. A compromised dial significantly reduces both collectibility and value
Bezel condition: Cerachrom ceramic does not scratch easily, but chips at the bezel edge — particularly near the 12 o'clock dive marker — are not uncommon on well-used examples and are difficult to repair authentically
Case finishing: The 116610LV's "super case" profile has distinctive brushed and polished surfaces. Over-polishing rounds the lug edges and removes the sharp definition that Rolex's finishing standard requires. Original finishing is a meaningful quality indicator
Bracelet stretch: Examine the bracelet links for excessive play. A well-maintained Oyster bracelet should feel firm and consistent. Significant stretch indicates heavy use and will require professional attention
Complete set: Box, papers, hang tags, and warranty card protect value and document provenance. Full set examples command meaningful premiums — $2,000 to $4,000 above watch-only pricing in 2026
Serial number: Production years 2010–2020 correspond to serial number ranges that can be verified against Rolex's production timeline. Mismatched serials and documentation are an immediate disqualifier
The Rolex Hulk at CHRONONATION
The Hulk is one of the references we handle with particular attention at CHRONONATION. Its combination of discontinuation status, high counterfeit volume, and meaningful price premium makes authentication especially critical — and the stakes of getting it wrong especially high for the buyer.
Every 116610LV in the CHRONONATION Submariner collection undergoes full authentication before being offered for sale: dial, case, bezel, bracelet, movement, and all documentation. Serial numbers are cross-referenced against production records and stolen watch databases. Condition is assessed and communicated transparently, with particular attention to dial and bezel integrity — the two factors that most affect the Hulk's value and wearability.
Every purchase is backed by the CHRONONATION Elevated Service Program: next-day insured delivery to your door, an extended 3-year CHRONONATION warranty, and a complimentary appraisal for insurance purposes.
For buyers comparing the Hulk to the Starbucks, or evaluating specific production years and condition grades, our specialists are available for a private consultation through our Appointments page — in person at our Midtown Manhattan showroom or remotely at your convenience. The full Rolex collection at CHRONONATION includes both discontinued and current references across the entire lineup.
The Hulk was too bold when it arrived. Six years after it left, it turns out it was exactly right.