A fake Rolex 16610LV is a replica of the 50th anniversary Submariner Date, the 40mm steel dive watch with a green aluminum bezel and black maxi dial that Rolex produced from 2003 to 2010. Collectors call the original "Kermit." Replica versions range from crude quartz imitations to high end copies built on Swiss style automatic movements, and the gap between those tiers is wide.
What makes the 16610LV different from a standard Submariner?
The 16610LV was released in 2003 to mark 50 years of the Submariner. Its defining change was the green bezel insert, paired with a black dial and a thicker "maxi" dial layout with larger hour markers and broader hands. Inside sat the caliber 3135, a 31 jewel automatic movement with a 48 hour power reserve.
Rolex discontinued the reference around 2010 and replaced it with the ceramic bezel 116610LV, nicknamed "Hulk." That split matters for replicas, because aluminum bezel Kermit copies and ceramic Hulk copies are built from different parts and carry different flaws.
What separates a good fake 16610LV from a poor one?
Case geometry and bezel insert color come first. The genuine insert is a flat anodized aluminum with a slightly olive green tone that shifts in light, so replicas with bright kelly green or glossy plastic looking inserts fail immediately.
- Case profile: lugs should be drilled for spring bars on early examples, with correct chamfers and a 40mm width that matches the 20mm lug spacing.
- Dial details: maxi markers, applied crown logo with five points, and crisp white gold style surrounds. Misaligned printing or a flat, stamped logo is a giveaway.
- Bezel action: genuine bezels rotate with 120 clicks, firm and precise, with no back play.
- Movement: a smooth sweeping seconds hand points to a mechanical movement. A ticking hand means quartz and a low tier build.
- Bracelet and clasp: solid end links, correct reference stamping, and a clasp that closes with a clean snap rather than a rattle.
How can you tell a fake 16610LV from a genuine one?
Start with the rehaut engraving, the inner ring between the dial and crystal. Genuine examples have crisp, evenly spaced ROLEX lettering that aligns with the minute markers, while many replicas show shallow or misaligned engraving. Next check the laser etched coronet at 6 o'clock on the crystal, which should be faint and visible only at an angle.
Serial and reference numbers between the lugs are the strongest check. Genuine stamping is shallow, clean, and consistent with the production era, and it must match the paperwork. A watchmaker with a case back tool can also confirm the movement in minutes, which settles the question faster than any visual inspection.
What do replica tiers cost?
Entry level copies with quartz movements often sell for under 100 US dollars and rarely survive daily wear. Mid tier automatic versions typically run a few hundred dollars. High end replicas that clone the case, dial, and movement architecture can reach several hundred to over a thousand dollars, and even those are not mistaken for genuine by a trained eye at close range.
Is buying or selling a counterfeit watch legal?
In the United States and most of the European Union, selling a counterfeit watch as genuine is trademark infringement and fraud. US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit imports, and reselling a replica without clear disclosure exposes the seller to civil liability. Own one if you accept the risk, but never present it as authentic.
Quick answer summary
The 16610LV is the green bezel anniversary Submariner made from 2003 to 2010. Replica quality hinges on bezel insert color, maxi dial accuracy, case shape, and movement type. Any purchase should be treated as a replica, never as an investment or a genuine Rolex.