948
Rolex
Ref. 16610LV
Submariner, “Kermit, Flat 4 MK I"
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver's wristwatch with center seconds, date, “Maxi MK I” dial, “Flat 4” bezel, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- First Rolex Submariner with a green bezel
- Early “Flat Four” bezel insert
- Rare Mark I “Maxi Dial” with wide Mercedes hands
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Submariner, the ref. 16610LV was released in 2003, and soon has become one of the most admired Submariner models. As the first Rolex Submariner with a green bezel, it is often nicknamed the “Kermit”, as in Kermit the Frog from the Muppet show.
Made of anodized aluminium, the Lunette Verte bezel bears the signature olive green colour of early ref. 16610LV Submariners. This watch is highly sought after as it bears the rare feature of a flattened “4” of the “40” mark of the bezel insert, granting it another nickname the “Flat Four” in the watch community, in which it could only be found in early models with the serial starting with Y and F. The typography of the marks is also worth mentioning, the serif numerals with feet are distinguishing factors that shows that the bezel of the present watch is an even rarer and earlier configuration of the “Flat Four” bezels.
The Kermit is equipped with the “Maxi Dial”, having strong and large luminous indices painted with Super-LumiNova. The watch is fitted with a Mark I dial, with a flat “O” in the Rolex logo and wider “Swiss Made” font arrangement. Compared to other ref. 16610 Submariners, the Kermit is paired with wider Mercedes hands, completing the robust and bold looking with the “Maxi Dial”.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.