Rolex 16610 Watches

Practical and stylish – these were Rolex’s guiding principles when designing the Submariner back in 1953. While some variations gained wide popularity through celebrity endorsements and appearances in films, others tugged deeper at the heartstrings of true watch nerds. There’s one particular iteration whose trajectory and significance is worth tracing: the Rolex 16610.

The Rolex 16610 is most notable for its stainless-steel construction and aluminum bezel insert. In addition to these features, the Rolex 16610 brought about a few other design elements that are important in the evolution of the collection, including the shift from tritium to LumiNova for the lume on the dial and the change from drilled to non-drilled lugs. This style number also marked the addition of the serial number and brand name engraved on the inner bezel.

The Rolex 16610 remained in production for over two decades. In 2003, the brand introduced the Rolex 16610LV in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the beloved model. It featured a date function and a bright green bezel contrasted by a black maxi dial. With its design, it acquired the nickname “Kermit” after Jim Henson’s treasured Muppet character. The green model was such a success, it later inspired the all-green "Hulk" (ref. 116610LV) in 2010. The Rolex 16610 was retired in 2010, as was the 16610LV.