Rolex Submariner Date “Kermit” 40mm Black Maxi Dial Anniversary Green Aluminum Bezel Oyster Bracelet 16610LV | 2007 Full Set — Never Polished

The Green Anniversary Submariner That Started a Revolution

In 2003, Rolex did something the Submariner family had never seen: it introduced the green bezel. For fifty years from 1953 to 2003, every Submariner bezel insert had been black. The black bezel was as much a part of the Submariner’s identity as the Oyster case or the Mercedes hands — so fundamental to the model that no one seriously expected Rolex to change it. Then, for the 50th anniversary of the Submariner, Rolex released the reference 16610LV — the LV standing for Lunette Verte, French for green bezel — and the collector world immediately gave it a name it has never been without: “Kermit,” after the famous Muppet, for the vivid green of its anniversary bezel. With its limited production run and distinctive design, the “Kermit” has become one of the most celebrated modern Submariner references, representing a unique blend of Rolex heritage and innovation. Rolex produced the 16610LV from 2003 through 2010, when it was replaced by the ceramic-bezel 116610LV — a run of approximately 100,000 pieces that now represents the entire finite universe of original aluminum-bezel Kermits that will ever exist. This 2007 Z-serial example comes in never-polished condition with the complete original set, and it is offered at one of the most compelling price points currently available for a documented Kermit.

The Significance of Never-Polished Condition

This example is specified as never polished — a detail that is not incidental to the Kermit’s collector value; it is central to it. Original factory edges on a 16610LV are the difference between a watch that looks well-preserved and a watch that is well-preserved. Polishing removes metal from the lugs, rounds the case corners, and irrevocably softens the sharp chamfers and brushed surfaces that Rolex applied at the factory. A never-polished 16610LV retains these original surfaces exactly as they left the factory floor in 2007 — its value as a collector artifact derives precisely from this authenticity. Among serious Kermit collectors, never-polished examples with honest wear marks (scratches on the bracelet, as noted) are consistently preferred over polished examples that look superficially better but have lost their factory geometry. The bracelet scratches noted are consistent with careful but honest wear — the patina of a watch that has been worn and lived with rather than stored under glass, and they will not affect the watch’s future value among collectors who understand what they are evaluating.

The 2007 Production Year — Rolex-Branded Rehaut and Credit Card Papers

A 2007 Z-serial Kermit carries two specific and meaningful production details that distinguish it from earlier examples of the same reference. From approximately 2003 onward, the 16610LV came fitted with the Rolex-branded rehaut — the inner ring of the dial bezel that Rolex began engraving with “ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX” around 2002, providing an additional authentication layer not present on the earliest Kermit production. Alongside this, the complete reference 16610LV was systematically reported on the credit card format warranty card from circa 2006/2007 regardless of geographical area — meaning this example’s papers are among the first generation to carry the full 16610LV reference designation on a credit-card format warranty card, the most modern and most collectible warranty card format of the reference’s production run.

The Green Anniversary Aluminum Bezel — A Living, Evolving Detail

The green aluminum bezel insert is the defining design element of the Kermit and the detail that distinguishes it from every other standard production Submariner Date ever made. Rolex produced nine different versions of this bezel during the seven years that the “Kermit” was in production — subtle variations in the font, the green tone, and the aging character of the aluminum that are distinguishable only with careful examination and reference knowledge. A 2007 Z-serial example carries a mid-to-late production bezel configuration — past the earliest “Flat 4” variants of 2003–2004 and into the more uniform production that characterizes the reference through its final years. The green tone of a genuine mid-production bezel should show natural, organic aging — subtle shifts in depth and tone across the surface — rather than the uniform, artificial-looking green of a replacement or aftermarket insert. Green aluminum bezels develop uniquely individual patina over years of UV exposure and wear, giving each Kermit a living, evolving bezel character that the modern ceramic bezels of the 116610LV and current generation can never replicate.

The Black Maxi Dial — The Kermit’s Second Defining Innovation

The Kermit’s black dial is not the same dial as the standard 16610. The 16610LV was outfitted with a black “Maxi dial” — characterized by larger hour indices and slightly wider hands than the standard reference. The Maxi dial was introduced specifically for the 16610LV and went on to define the aesthetic of the modern Submariner generation that followed — meaning the Kermit introduced the Maxi dial format to the Submariner family as part of its anniversary specification. The enlarged dot and baton luminous markers provide enhanced legibility over the standard dial, the Mercedes hands are proportionally wider, and the overall dial presents with greater visual weight and clarity than the preceding generation. SuperLumiNova fills the markers and hands — in 2007 production, the lume is still relatively young and should present as clean and bright rather than aged.

904L Oystersteel Case — Classic Pre-Supercase Proportions

The case is entirely made of 904L steel with a guaranteed water resistance up to 300 meters. The 40mm Oyster case retains the classic pre-Supercase proportions of the 16610 family — thinner lugs, a slimmer overall profile, and a more refined wrist presence than the broader Maxi-case architecture of the 116610LV that succeeded it in 2010. The case is sealed with a screw-down Triplock crown and solid caseback, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal sits flush over the Maxi dial. The combination of the classic pre-Supercase profile with the Maxi dial and green bezel gives the Kermit a character that feels simultaneously vintage in proportion and modern in detail — a tension that has contributed significantly to its collector appeal.

The Oyster Bracelet with Glidelock

The Oyster bracelet is crafted in 904L Oystersteel with the Glidelock extension system — the tool-free adjustment mechanism that allows the bracelet to be sized in 2mm increments over approximately 20mm without removing any links. The bracelet of this example shows scratches consistent with honest daily wear — marks that confirm the bracelet has not been polished and that its surfaces retain their original factory finish. The Glidelock system closes with the flip-lock Oysterlock clasp.

Powered by Caliber 3135 — The Kermit’s Proven Movement

The Caliber 3135 is identical to the standard 16610. Nothing about the movement is specific to the anniversary variant, and COSC chronometer certification applies throughout the run. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour with 31 jewels and a 48-hour power reserve, featuring quickset date, hacking seconds, and the blue Parachrom hairspring that Rolex began introducing in this caliber generation for improved magnetic and thermal resistance. The Caliber 3135 powered the Submariner Date from 1988 through 2020 and is universally regarded by watchmakers as one of the most reliable and most straightforward automatic movements ever produced for a professional sport watch.

What’s Included

This 2007 example comes with the complete original set: inner and outer Rolex box, papers, red chronometer hangtag, wipe cloth, and anchor charm — a remarkably complete accessory set for a watch of this age and price point. The red chronometer hangtag is a period-correct detail specific to the mid-2000s production era and increasingly difficult to find complete on secondary market Kermit examples.

Shipping & Payment

This watch is priced at $8,200 shipped worldwide via FedEx Overnight. A $100 discount is available for buyers providing their own shipping label. Leave a message for detailed photos and further information.

Why This Reference Stands Out

The “Kermit” is the predecessor to the “Hulk” (116610LV) that introduced the all-green dial, and it represents the moment when Rolex first broke from fifty years of black-only Submariner bezels — a historically decisive moment in the model’s evolution that the collector market has consistently recognized and rewarded. Secondary market Kermit 16610LV examples in full-set condition with papers currently trade between $8,000 and $13,000 depending on production year and condition, with never-polished examples commanding meaningful premiums over polished equivalents. At $8,200 for a 2007 Z-serial, never-polished, complete-set example with the red hangtag, wipe cloth, and anchor charm, this listing offers one of the most complete and most authentically preserved Kermit acquisitions currently available at the entry end of the market range — a watch with full collector credentials, honest wear character, and a documented heritage that grows more significant with every passing year.