Quick answer

The Rolex Submariner 16610LV is a genuine Rolex reference built from 2003 to 2010. It has a green aluminum bezel insert, a black dial, and a 40 mm steel case. A replica 16610LV is an unauthorized copy of that watch. It is not made or sold by Rolex. In the United States, trafficking in such copies is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and US Customs and Border Protection can seize the goods at import.

Reference facts

  • Introduced in 2003 for the 50th year of the Submariner line, which began in 1953.
  • Nickname: Kermit. Reference number 16610LV. The LV suffix marks the green lunette verte bezel.
  • Case: 40 mm Oystersteel, screw-down crown, 300 m water resistance rating.
  • Movement: caliber 3135, automatic, 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, about 48 hours of power reserve.
  • Dial: black with larger hour markers than the 16610, known as the Maxi dial.
  • Engravings: reference and serial numbers sit on the case between the lugs. Rehaut engraving arrived in 2010 with the 116610.
  • End of run: replaced in 2010 by the 116610LV, which uses a ceramic bezel.

What replica versions are

Replica 16610LV watches are produced in China and sold through online sellers and social channels. Asking prices run from about $30 to more than $500. Low-cost units use quartz or basic Asian automatic movements. Higher-priced units use a copy of caliber 3135 or an ETA-style movement with a decorated rotor. No replica is built on Rolex tooling, and no replica carries a Rolex warranty or service record.

Points used to tell them apart

  • Bezel insert: the genuine insert is anodized aluminum in a set green. Copies show a flatter or more yellow green.
  • Lume pip: shape, height, and setting of the pearl at 12 o'clock.
  • Date window: genuine magnification is about 2.5x. Copies vary.
  • Crown guards: profile and polish lines.
  • Serial and reference stamping between the lugs: font, depth, and spacing.
  • Bracelet: reference 93250 with solid end links. Copies show gaps at the case.
  • Movement: the genuine 3135 has a free-sprung balance. Copies use a regulator or a decorated plate.
  • Water resistance: copies are not pressure tested to 300 m.

Legal status in the US

Rolex holds trademarks on its name, crown logo, and case designs. Unauthorized copies infringe those marks. Under 18 U.S.C. 2320, a first conviction for trafficking in counterfeit goods carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine. CBP inspects incoming shipments and seizes counterfeit watches. Seizure can occur on a personal-use import as well as on commercial shipments.

Price

Genuine 16610LV examples trade on the secondary market in the five-figure USD range. Final price depends on condition, box and papers, service history, and bezel insert variant. Replica prices do not track the genuine market.

This guide lists no sellers, factories, or order channels.