Have you ever asked your friend if their Rolex Submariner (16610LV) was a Kermit or a Fat Four, and they give you a puzzled look, as if they have no idea what you’ve just asked them?
Well, today is your (and their) lucky day, because you can send them this article or our latest YouTube video, which explains all the differences between these two Rolex Submariners.
Let’s find out!
The 50th Anniversary Rolex Submariner
The year is 2003 – the 50th anniversary of the first Submariner – and Rolex decides to celebrate this occasion with a special edition timepiece. The product was a Submariner with a stunning green bezel on the classic black dial.
The reference number is 16610LV, but, as is the case for most Rolex models, within this collection, we can find peculiar differences between the first and the latest, or, second editions.
The first iteration of this model was the “Fat Four”: a Rolex whose “4” on its bezel is written differently compared to the ones on the successive iterations.
Differences between the Rolex Submariner Kermit and Fat Four
The “4” of these Fat, or Flat Fours, in fact, features a flat top: in a certain sense it appears as if it’s been cut off. This creates an internal trapezoidal shape, as opposed to a triangular one in the second iteration, which is referred to as the Kermit Submariner.
Whereas the name of the Rolex Submariner Fat Four derives from the shape of the number, the story of the Kermit is slightly different, nothing to do with shapes. Instead, it’s named that way from the Muppets character “Kermit The Frog”, widely recognisable by his green-coloured skin and his black eyes which somewhat resemble the watch.
Other differences
Many people think there is only one difference between the Fat Four and the Kermit, but there are many more. Take the font for example: the bezel on the Fat Four is slightly slimmer and delicate, whereas the bezel of the Kermit is more bold.
Moreover, if we look a little closer, we can see that the position of the Swiss Made signature differs between these two models, as well as the size of the font on the dial. It is also worth noting that this reference – the 16610LV – which we can summarise as the “Anniversary” reference, has a peculiar dial configuration which is more similar to a Yacht Master: larger hands and generously sized indices.
Production years of the Submariner 16610LV
To better understand the differences, let’s look at manufacturing details. The Anniversary Submariner reference (16610LV) was introduced in 2003 and production lasted only 7 years. Across this period, 9 dial “Marks” appeared. To learn more about what “Mark” means, you can head over to our website and search for our article on the 1680 to find out. It’s also good as an overall introduction to the Rolex Submariner.
Let’s get back to the watch. The first Mark dial was employed exclusively on the Fat Four bezel variant, which massively boosts its rarity, and the remaining 8 Marks were featured on the Kermit bezel one. From 2008 onwards, these later Marks were accompanied by the Triple-R ring: the Rolex Repeating Ring. This feature was introduced by Rolex as a way to make counterfeit production more difficult, as it is a costly and tricky process. You can find this ring on the Rehaut of many modern Rolex cases.
Rolex Submariner 16610LV on the aftermarket
When it comes to aftermarket evaluations, seeing as there are 8 Marks for the Kermit, and only 1 for the Fat Four, there are two distinctly different demands and therefore prices. The Kermit sells for approximately €15,000. The Fat Four instead varies quite significantly based on its quality conditions.
As a result, we find ourselves in the €20,000 bracket for a model in standard conditions (used and relatively good appearance), rising to €35,000 for a NOS (New Old Stock) factory fresh version, basically unworn.
The new “Cermit”
In 2020, Rolex released a new watch, which has already been nicknamed the Cermit – the new green-and-black Submariner. This name comes from the timepiece’s use of a ceramic bezel.
Apart from the name change and its reference number – now 126610LV – the case dimensions have been increased as well as several other aspects, starting a new chapter for the green-and-black Rolex timepieces.
For those who missed it, I’ll leave you there our new video again. Enjoy!
-Translated by Patrick R.
