Rolex Kermit Review
The Rolex Kermit, a mens stainless steel dive watch, is a very special watch and has been blessed with coveted Rolex green. In 2020 the Rolex Kermit was reintroduced into the Submariner production to the excitement of many mens watch enthusiasts. How the Rolex Kermit got its name was fans simply thought that the green bezel matched the famous Muppets character. You may laugh but for some reason that name just stuck.
What was significant about the Rolex Kermit 126610LV dive watch release was that it came at the exact time that Rolex completely redesigned the Submariner collection. The case sign, bezel, movement, and bracelet all experienced changes in dimensions and received upgrades. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Rolex waited to bring back the Kermit for the 2020 release.
In our review of the stainless steel Rolex Submariner Kermit 126610LV reference, we’ll discuss the upgrades to this watch along with comparing it to similar watches like the previous 16610LV reference and the Hulk.
To discover more Rolex Submariners, visit our Submariner reference guide for models and pricing.
Rolex Kermit Ceramic Green Bezel
We mentioned earlier in this article that green is a very special color to Rolex. It is a way for the brand to signify importance and usually references like the 126610LV becomes instant collectables because of it. Before we wrote this article, we had the opportunity to get hands on with the Rolex Kermit 2020 reference. Why that is important is because we got a first hand view of the green bezel, which I think is important. By now we’ve all seen many images online of the Rolex Kermit green bezel. Honestly, I don’t think any of them compare to how it looks in person. Yes online they look great but once you get hands on it’s a whole different ball game.
It is hard to describe a color because many people see them differently. If one were to ask me how I would compare it to what we all see online I would tell them the green bezel on the mens stainless steel Rolex Kermit is much brighter than what you would imagine.
It’s also worth noting that the green is different than the Hulk and much different than the aluminum bezel on the previous Kermit reference 16610LV.
Calibre 3235 Movement
An upgraded movement was well overdue for the Rolex Submariner. The Rolex Kermit is fitted with the in-house calibre 3235 movement. The most notable upgrades from the previous reference is the increased power reserve to 70 hours, improved anti-magnetic ratings, and better shock absorbing technology.
Complications for the 3235 movement in the Rolex Submariner Kermit include date and a stop seconds function. This movement is everything you’d expect in a men’s luxury dive watch. It’s accurate to +/- 2 seconds per day and hardly needs serviced. Rolex recommends only servicing the calibre 3235 about once every ten years. That is a sign of quality engineering and production for a mens sports watch.
For more specs and more information about the Kermit’s 3235 movement, check out our full review of the movement.
Case
With the much anticipated Rolex Submariner update in 2020 came a new case design. The Rolex Kermit from the 2020 release received a larger case, which is now 41mm. With the bigger case, Rolex slimmed down the lugs a bit to have a better overall case profile. Both changes really allow the Rolex Submariner Kermit to sit better on the wrist and personally I think it looks much better than the Maxi case it replaced.
Oyster Bracelet & Clasp
Rolex is known for their bracelet and clasp construction and it was only amplified with the release of the Rolex Submariner Kermit. For a men’s luxury watch, there isn’t a better bracelet to wear than the Oyster Bracelet. I personally own one and they are a joy to wear. The stainless steel bracelet tapers quite nicely and feels solid.
Securing the Oyster bracelet on the Rolex Kermit is the Oyster clasp. This device is a double locking mechanism that has one of the best on-the-go sizing adjustments that don’t involve any tools. That patented micro-adjustment on the Rolex Kermit Oyster clasp allows the wearer to completely customize the fit of the watch depending on their wrist size. For a sports watch this is a huge advantage. Our bodies are constantly swelling and shrinking depending on many internal and external conditions. A quality men’s sport watch should conform to your wrist, not the other way around.
Alternative Kermit Nicknames
Rolex nicknames are a big deal to anyone who doesn’t already know. Chances are that if your in the watch world this may seem normal to you but to outsiders it seems a bit fanatic. Outsiders aren’t wrong but that doesn’t mean that its bad.
The 2020 release of the Rolex Kermit came with some debate and lobbying around if the nickname “Kermit” should still be used. Many argued for modifying “Kermit” to “Cermit” because of the new green ceramic bezel. Others wanted to nickname it “Starbucks” because the new green bezel and black dial almost completely matches the Starbucks logo. At the end of the day the original nickname won out and that is what most Rolex enthusiasts call it today.
After all, the Pepsi, Root Beer, and Bluesy didn’t get new nicknames just because an updated version was released.
126610LV Specs
| Case | 41mm |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Bezel | Green Cerachrom Uni-Directional |
| Crown | Triple Lock Screw Down |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Calibre | 3235 |
| Accuracy | +/- 2 Seconds / Day |
| Power Reserve | 70 Hours |
| Bracelet | Oyster |
Rolex Kermit vs Hulk
Many assume that the Kermit and the Hulk are very similar because of the shared bezel that they have. Once you look at the watches and their specs, you’ll see they are very different if you’re a Rolex fanatic. When you compare the Rolex Kermit vs Hulk you’ll notice that the case, dial, bezel, bracelet, and movement are all different. We’ll quickly break the difference down between the Kermit vs Hulk.
Case
The case size changed when the Submariner was updated. The Hulk had a 40mm case size and the new Kermit for 2020 is a 41mm.
Dial
This quickest visual difference to notice between the Kermit and the Hulk is that the dials are different colors. The Hulk has a sunburst green dial and the Rolex Kermit has a black dial.
Bezel
When the Rolex Submariner was updated in 2020 the bezel became skinnier. The one difference that people may not see unless both watches are side by side is that the green bezels are actually a different color of green.
Bracelet
The bracelets between the two are very similar except the lug to lug width slightly changed on the case so the bracelet had to adjust as well.
Movement
Other than the dial color, the biggest difference between the Kermit and Hulk is the movement. The Kermit has the new 3235 calibre which replaced the Hulks 3135 calibre.
Rolex Kermit Pricing & Availability
The Rolex Kermit 126610LV is part of the popular Submariner collection and costs $9,550 new and can be purchased up to $23,000 pre-owned. This watch is considered extremely hard to find new. It’s often sold to preferred clients at Rolex authorized dealers which makes it difficult for most to obtain new. The scarcity of the Rolex Submariner Kermit combined with the green bezel is what has lead this watch to skyrocket on the secondary market.
Discover more on Rolex pricing with our Complete Guide To Rolex Pricing.
Waitlist For The Rolex Kermit
The waitlist for the Rolex Kermit is 8-36 months depending on your status and relationship with the authorized dealer. For more information on the Rolex Waitlist, check out our guide for each model and how to improve your relationship.
Summary
After getting hands on with the Rolex Kermit 126610LV, the one that was updated in 2020, it was evident that this is the best current Submariner in production. Yes, we all missed the Hulk when it was discontinued but what we got after that was better with the Kermit. Outside of the beautiful green bezel and its highly collectable allure, the bare bones of this watch simply amazing. If there was no hype behind Rolex or the Kermit brand/name, this would be a watch that would be a must own.
What Else Should You Know About The Rolex Submariner Kermit
Is The Rolex Kermit Discontinued
The original Rolex Kermit ref 16610LV was discontinued in 2010 but was reintroduced in 2020, reference 126610LV, when Rolex introduced the new Rolex Submariner 41mm. The new reference, 126610LV, has a ceramic bezel and comes with the new case and bracelet dimensions of the new 41mm version.
Is The Rolex Kermit Rare
The Rolex Kermit is an extremely rare timepiece. It’s hard enough to come by any Rolex but especially the Submariner Kermit. Typically anything manufactured with the color green by Rolex is an instant collectable which means the waitlists will be long and buyers will be holding onto these watches.
Is The Rolex Kermit A Good Investment & What Is It Worth
Both the previous and current references of the Rolex Submariner Kermit are excellent investment watches. The new Rolex Kermit reference, 126610LV, can be purchased new for $9,550 and sells for roughly $23,000 on the pre-owned market. The original Rolex Kermit reference, 16610LV, can been seen on Chrono24 selling for as much as $25,000. Both resale values are impressive and should categorize the Rolex Kermit as a great investment watch.
