All About the Rolex Hulk Submariner
The Rolex “Hulk”–the first Rolex Submariner with a green dial, reference 116610 LV–debuted at Baselworld 2010. Initially, its classic black counterpart was far more sought after. In fact, for years the Rolex Hulk Submariner could even be purchased at a discount. Collectors didn’t hate the Hulk; they just didn’t think of it as particularly special at the time. Conventional wisdom was that “black is more versatile.”
What is a Rolex Hulk?
The Rolex Hulk is a fan nickname for the only Rolex Submariner with a green dial, the reference 116610 LV. It was offered from 2010-2020.
Is the Rolex Hulk Discontinued?
Yes, the Rolex Hulk Submariner 116610 LV was discontinued in 2020, when it was replaced by the 126610 LV “Starbucks,” which has a green bezel insert and a black dial.
How Much Does a Rolex Hulk Cost?
As the Rolex Hulk is discontinued, it is only available on the secondary watch market (i.e. the grey market), and Hulk prices remain over $20,000 as of 2023. This represents a significant premium over other modern Submariner prices.
Upon release, the Rolex Hulk was less desired than its all-black, classic counterpart. Gradually, though, interest in the green-dial Submariner Hulk grew. By 2019, rumors of discontinuation had helped drive secondhand Hulk prices higher. After the “Incredible Hulk Rolex” finally was discontinued in 2020, prices continued to climb, until by 2021 it was one of the most popular Rolexes and you could find watch enthusiasts unironically asking if the Hulk was the “next $100k watch.” It wasn’t. But, now that the hype has settled down a bit, we can appreciate the 116610 LV for what it is: a distinctive, appealing, and collectible Rolex. that still commands a hefty premium. It’s certainly no longer considered an entry-level Rolex like it was upon its debut.
Are All Green-Bezel Rolexes Hulks?
Before we dive into Rolex Hulk Submariner variants, let’s clarify which green-accented Submariners are Hulks and which are not. Reference 116610 LV is the only Hulk model, and as mentioned, it’s the only Submariner with a green dial. The Hulk Rolex was not the first Submariner with a green bezel insert, however. That honor belongs to the 16610 LV, or “Kermit,” which debuted in 2003 to celebrate the Submariner’s 50th anniversary.
What is a Kermit Rolex?
“Kermit” is what Rolex fans call the Rolex Submariner reference 16610 LV, made from 2003-2010. The Rolex Kermit features a green aluminum bezel insert along with a black dial with extra-large hour plots. The 16610 LV underwent many well-documented changes over the years, with collectors largely preferring the “flat 4” bezel typeface on the earliest examples. Rolex bezel colors are often scrutinized, and the green color of the aluminum bezel inserts on the 16610 LV seemed to vary a bit from batch to batch. Some were “grassier” while others were slightly darker or more bluish, some got more faded, etc.
Did the Rolex Hulk Bezel Change?
No; the Hulk’s ceramic inserts had a consistent hue (and typeface) throughout its decade-long run from 2010-2020, and ceramic doesn’t fade. The Hulk Submariner remained virtually unchanged, aside from extremely minor dial changes, until it was replaced by ref. 126610 LV, the “Starbucks.”
What is a Starbucks Rolex?
Also known as the “Cermit,” The Rolex Starbucks is a Submariner Date model released in 2020 with a green ceramic insert surrounding a black dial. Although its case and bracelet are both 1mm larger than previous Submariners, the lugs and bracelet are nicely tapered, so in practice the size difference is rather negligible. The reference number of the Starbucks Submariner is 126610 LV, and while some people also call this reference a “Kermit,” others insist that only ref. 16610 LV is a true Kermit. There are already two well-established variants of the Starbucks 126610 LV model–Mark 1 (same color as the Hulk bezel) and Mark 2 (grass green bezel).
The Hulk’s variations were more subtle, and we’ll go through all of them with you. But first, let’s break down the specs of the famous 116610 LV.
Rolex Submariner Hulk Specs
| Reference | 116610LV |
| Movement | Cal. 3135 (Automatic, 8 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Case Diameter | 40mm |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Bezel Insert | Ceramic (Green) |
| Dial | Green Sunburst |
| Years Produced | 2010-2020 |
| 2020 MSRP | $9,350 |
| Peak Sale Price | $94,500 (December 2021 Phillips auction) |
| 2023 Market Price | ~$22,000 |
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Rolex Hulk Variants: Are There Different Types of Rolex Hulk?
On watch forums, you can find comments ranging from “all Hulks are basically the same” to “there are four distinct Marks of Hulk models.”
We tend to follow the four-variant convention, although the differences between Marks 1-2 and Marks 3-4 are, frankly, pedantic. Depending on how far you zoom in your microscope, I’m sure you could find unlimited “variants” with spectacularly minute variations. Although the respective “Marks” of any collectible wristwatch are always arbitrary, we’ll go ahead and break down the accepted iterations of the Hulk here in the simplest way possible:
Rolex Hulk Mark 1 (2010-2015)
The Mark 1 Hulk dial has a space between “300” and “m,” and the equals sign is in the exact middle of the dial, right above the center of the 6 o’clock marker.
Rolex Hulk Mark 2 (2013-2016)
On the “Mark 2” Hulk dial, the equals sign is moved slightly more to the right. That’s literally the only difference. Instead of aligning with the middle of the dial itself, the equals sign is centered between the meter and feet ratings. Whew, exciting stuff!
Rolex Hulk Mark 3 (2016-2020)
This is the only real notable update to the Hulk. From 2016 on, Hulks have polished folding clasps instead of sandblasted, and the word “Submariner” is bolder. There are some other minor typeface and spacing changes, too: no more space between “300” and “m,” the “ft.” gets slightly taller, the equals sign becomes italic, and the letters spelling “Oyster Perpetual Date” no longer have much space between them–they’re almost touching.
Rolex Hulk Mark 4 (2018-2020)
There is some debate as to whether a “Mark 4 Hulk” is really a thing. Some say that Mark 4 Hulk dials have even bolder “Submariner” text than the Mark 3, while others chalk it up to manufacturing tolerances.
Rolex Hulk Variations Chart: How to Differentiate Rolex Hulk Models
| Variant | Year | “Submariner” Typeface | Depth Rating Spacing | Equals Sign | “Oyster Perpetual Date” Lettering | Clasp Finish | Rehaut Engraving | |
| Mark 1 Hulk | 2010-2015 | Thin | Space in “300 m” | “=” in very middle of dial | Some space between letters, “D” partially under “X” | Sandblasted | Block letters | |
| Mark 2 Hulk | 2013-2016 | Thin | Space in “300 m” | “=” center-justified between depth ratings | Some space between letters, “D” partially under “X” | Sandblasted | Block letters (may be sandblasted from 2015 on) | |
| Mark 3 Hulk | 2016-2020 | Thick | No space in “300m” | Italic “=” | Letters almost touching, “D” is not under “X” | Polished | Sandblasted | |
| Mark 4 Hulk (Debated) | 2018-2020 | Very Thick | No space in “300m” | Italic “=” | Letters almost touching, “D” is not under “X” | Polished | Sandblasted |
How Many Rolex Hulks Were Made?
Just over 200,000 Hulk Submariners were produced. Although Rolex’s supply chain is typically shrouded in secrecy, these numbers were surprisingly published in the Rolex-authorized book Oyster Perpetual Submariner: The Watch That Unlocked the Deep. Morgan Stanley estimates that Rolex’s total output is around 1.25 million watches per year, making them the world’s top luxury watch brand.
Rolex Hulk vs. Kermit
Rolex collectors are often interested in both the Hulk and Kermit references, so we made a chart to quickly show the differences between a Rolex Kermit vs. Hulk model. We’ve included both the new Kermit (“Cermit” aka “Starbucks”) and the original.
| Rolex Kermit | Rolex Hulk | Rolex Starbucks (aka Kermit/Cermit) | |
| Reference | 16610 LV | 116610 LV | 126610 LV |
| Year Introduced | 2003 | 2010 | 2020 |
| Dial | Black | Green | Black |
| Case Diameter | 40mm | 40mm | 41mm |
| Bracelet Width | 20mm | 20mm | 21mm |
| Clasp | Fliplock | Glidelock | Glidelock |
| Movement | 3135 | 3135 | 3235 |
And that concludes our guide to the beloved Rolex Hulk Submariner. Did we miss any minute variations? Let us know in the comments!
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