There is no safe, serviceable version of a fake Rolex 16610LV, and importing one into the United States is illegal. If you want the Kermit look, the realistic routes are a genuine 16610LV, a legal homage dive watch, or a replica that brings legal exposure and no warranty. This guide covers what the reference is, what replica makers get wrong, and what each route costs you in practice.
What the Rolex 16610LV is
Rolex introduced the Submariner 16610LV in 2003 to mark the line's 50th anniversary. The LV suffix comes from lunette verte, French for green bezel. The watch pairs a green aluminum bezel insert with a black dial, and it brought the larger Maxi hour markers and hands to the Submariner line. The case is 40 mm in stainless steel, water resistance is rated to 300 m, and the movement is the in-house caliber 3135 with a date under a cyclops. Rolex discontinued the reference around 2010 when the ceramic bezel 116610LV arrived. Collectors know it as the Kermit.
What replica 16610LV watches get wrong
- Bezel insert: the genuine aluminum has a specific depth of green and a lume pip set into a recess. Replicas read flat or too yellow in daylight.
- Dial: Maxi markers on the genuine sit at a set height with polished surrounds. Replica plots often look thick or carry uneven lume.
- Case and crown guards: the 16610 profile has soft, slightly asymmetric guards. Replica cases tend to look boxy and sharp.
- Bracelet: solid end links should meet the case with no gap. Replica end links rattle or sit proud of the lugs.
- Movement: the genuine caliber 3135 beats at 28,800 vph. Replicas use third party movements with a decorated rotor and no parts support.
- Crystal and rehaut: later 16610 cases carry an engraved rehaut and a laser etched coronet at 6 o'clock. Replicas copy the look but rarely the alignment.
Option 1: a genuine 16610LV
Pros:
- Legally owned and freely resold
- Rolex service network and available parts
- Documented reference and serial numbers between the lugs
- Value tracks the collector market over time
Cons:
- Highest entry cost of the three routes
- Box and papers matter, and many examples sell loose
- Service on a 3135 is a real expense
- Aluminum inserts fade and scratch with wear
Use case: buy this if the point is to own the reference, wear it often, and pass it on later.
Option 2: a legal homage or another green bezel diver
Pros:
- Legal to buy, import, and resell
- Warranty and service from the brand that built it
- Water resistance you can trust for swimming and travel
- Much lower entry cost than a genuine Kermit
Cons:
- No Rolex name, dial, or caseback
- Homage cases rarely match the 16610 profile
- Green bezel shades vary between models
Use case: the best route if you want the Kermit look on a wrist and plan to swim, travel, and sell it later.
Option 3: a replica 16610LV
Pros:
- Low purchase price
- From a distance it reads as a green bezel Submariner
Cons:
- Importing counterfeit goods into the US is prohibited, and Customs can seize and destroy the shipment
- Trafficking in counterfeit goods carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320
- No warranty, no parts support, and no reliable water resistance rating
- Resale is unlawful, so there is no resale market
- Movement and finish degrade and there is no service path
Use case: none that holds up. If the goal is the look, an homage gets you there without the legal and mechanical problems.
How to check a 16610LV before you pay
- Ask for the reference and serial engraving between the lugs, then match the dates.
- Check rehaut engraving alignment and the laser etched coronet at 6 o'clock.
- View the bezel insert in daylight and in shade. The green should shift in tone, not stay flat.
- Compare Maxi marker height and lume color across every plot on the dial.
- Check solid end link fit and the clasp code against the case date.
- Have an independent watchmaker open the case and confirm the caliber 3135.
- Buy from a seller who includes box, papers, and a service history.
Bottom line
A fake 16610LV can copy the outline of the Kermit, but it cannot copy the movement, the service network, or the legal right to own and resell it. If you want the reference, save for the genuine watch and buy from a documented seller. If you want the look, a legal homage gives you a wearable green bezel diver with a warranty. The replica route costs the least up front and the most everywhere else.