Why the Rolex Submariner 116610LV "Hulk" Holds Up
The Submariner Hulk earns its nickname honestly — the all-green dial and Cerachrom bezel make it one of the most visually committed sport watches Rolex ever produced, and the 904L Oystersteel backs that up with decades of wear.
The Rolex Hulk occupies a specific place in the modern watch conversation — it is the rare collector's piece that became one before most people noticed it happening. When Rolex introduced the 116610LV in 2010, the all-green colour scheme was considered a risk. A decade later, when the reference was quietly replaced by the 126610LV with a black dial and green bezel, the horological internet mourned loudly. That reaction tells you something about how much the watch had grown into its own identity.
What makes the Hulk worth discussing beyond its nickname is the material specification. The green bezel insert is Cerachrom, Rolex's proprietary ceramic compound, scratch-resistant and UV-stable in a way that aluminium inserts simply are not. Vintage Submariners with aluminium bezels fade to grey or brown over decades of sun exposure. The 116610LV will look the same colour in thirty years as it does today — a practical argument that gets overlooked in favour of the aesthetic one.
The 904L Oystersteel case material deserves equal attention. Most watchmakers, including many at the top of the market, use 316L stainless steel. Rolex switched to 904L across its steel lineup decades ago. The alloy is harder to machine, which is partly why Rolex operates its own steel processing, but the result is a case that takes a sharper polish and holds it longer under daily wear. On a watch you plan to keep for ten or twenty years, that matters.
For buyers entering the grey market for this reference, the search term 'Rolex Hulk' surfaces a wide range of sellers and conditions. Box-and-papers examples command the highest premiums, but the movement and case construction mean a well-serviced example without original packaging is still a sound long-term acquisition. The calibre 3135 has a proven service interval, and Rolex's service network remains one of the most consistent in the industry for parts availability on discontinued references.
The current 126610LV — the Submariner with a green bezel and black dial — is a cleaner, arguably more versatile watch. But the 116610LV has something the newer reference does not: a settled reputation. The Hulk has already been tested by time, by the collector market, and by daily wearers who chose it over safer options. That track record is worth something, and it is the reason the discontinued reference continues to hold its value against retail pressure.