Starbucks 126610LV specifications
In mechanical terms, the 126610LV is simply a 126610LN with a different insert. The case, calibre and bracelet are identical. What you pay extra for is the green Cerachrom bezel.
| Reference | 126610LV |
|---|---|
| Collection | Submariner |
| Status | Current production |
| Introduced | 2020 |
| Predecessor | 116610LV |
| Case diameter | 41 mm |
| Case thickness | 12.5 mm |
| Case material | Oystersteel |
| Bezel | Unidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated, green Cerachrom insert, numerals and graduations coated in platinum |
| Dial options | Black |
| Crystal | Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date |
| Calibre | 3235 |
| Movement | Perpetual self-winding, Superlative Chronometer (-2/+2 sec/day after casing), Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, instantaneous date with rapid setting |
| Power reserve | 70 hours |
| Water resistance | 300 m |
| Bracelet / strap | Oyster, three-piece solid links; folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system |
| Retail price (US) | US$11,900 |
| Retail price (Malaysia) | RM51,500 |
Specifications checked against Rolex and independent references, October 2026. MYR figures marked ≈ are converted at 4.08 MYR per USD.
History and reference evolution
Rolex has made three green-bezel Submariner Dates. Each one changed the formula, and each change moved prices. Knowing the sequence helps you judge what the Starbucks 126610LV is, and what it is not.
2003: the Kermit
The first green Sub was the 16610LV of 2003, made for the Submariner's 50th anniversary. It paired a black dial with a green aluminium insert. Collectors named it the Kermit. Aluminium fades with sun and salt, so many Kermits now show softer green tones.
2010: the Hulk
In 2010 the 116610LV took over. It went all green: a green sunburst dial under a green ceramic bezel. That earned it the name Hulk. It also used the broad 40 mm Maxi case. Our Hulk 116610LV page covers it in depth.
2020: the Starbucks 126610LV
The 2020 update brought back the black dial. As a result, the look returned towards the Kermit, but with a ceramic bezel. Collectors started calling it the Starbucks, after the green-and-black logo. Underneath, it gained the 41 mm case with slimmer lugs, a 21 mm bracelet and the 70-hour calibre 3235.
Rolex currently lists it as 126610LV-0002. Check that full number on the warranty card, because the suffix identifies the exact catalogue version.
| Reference | Nickname | Years | Dial / bezel | Calibre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16610LV | Kermit | 2003-2010 | Black / green aluminium | 3135, 48 h |
| 116610LV | Hulk | 2010-2020 | Green sunburst / green ceramic | 3135, 48 h |
| 126610LV | Starbucks | 2020- | Black / green ceramic | 3235, 70 h |
Why the sequence matters for value
Dropping the green dial made the Hulk unique. Consequently, the Hulk now trades well above the Starbucks 126610LV. Meanwhile, the Starbucks still out-asks the black 126610LN, because green bezels have been a scarce Rolex colour. The ranking is stable: Hulk first, Starbucks second, black third.
126610LV pre-owned prices compared
| Condition | What it means | USD | MYR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unworn, full set | Stickers or barely worn, box, card dated within ~2 years, all tags | US$16,000 – US$17,500 | RM65,000 – RM71,000 |
| Excellent, box & papers | Light wear, unpolished or lightly polished, warranty card present | US$14,800 – US$16,200 | RM60,000 – RM66,000 |
| Good, no papers | Normal wear, watch only or box only, service history helps | US$13,200 – US$14,600 | RM54,000 – RM60,000 |
| Polished or aftermarket parts | Soft case edges, replaced dial/bezel/bracelet, or non-Rolex parts | US$11,500 – US$13,200 | RM47,000 – RM54,000 |
Bands reflect asking and achieved prices from 2 public market sources in October 2026, rounded. Retail for comparison: US$11,900. Prices move; use them as a sense-check, not a quote.
Rolex lists the Starbucks 126610LV at US$11,900 in the US and RM51,500 in Malaysia. On the secondary market it trades roughly 30 to 40 percent over US list. That premium is smaller than in 2022. Still, it consistently beats the black model's premium.
What moves the price of a Starbucks 126610LV
Documentation weighs heavily here. The green-bezel model is a favourite of counterfeiters. So buyers lean on a full set with a dated card as proof. A watch-only example sells at a clear discount, and takes longer to sell.
Bezel condition is the next factor. A chip or deep scratch in green ceramic needs a new insert. That is a costly service-centre job, so dealers deduct for it. Polished lugs and clasp come next, as on any modern Sub. Finally, the production year matters. A recent card carries more remaining guarantee.
Unworn, stickered pieces top the band. However, the gap between "unworn" and "excellent" is narrow here. A careful owner rarely loses much by wearing it.
Where to check prices
Anchor on rolex.com for the list price. Then compare grey-dealer asks, which include margin. Chrono24 gives the broadest view of asking prices. Because Starbucks and Hulk listings sometimes get mixed up, filter by reference, not by nickname. Auction results confirm the floor but rarely set the market for a current model.
In Malaysia, local listings and Singapore dealers are the two main pools. Compare both in ringgit at the day's rate. Ask local sellers for the card and serial photos before arranging a viewing.
When a price is too good to be true
Even a refinished watch with service parts asks from about US$11,500. So a full set offered under about US$11,000 (roughly RM45,000) is a red flag. Be especially wary of "Starbucks" listings that only show the dial side.
Genuine vs replica: how to check a Starbucks 126610LV
Colour is the first check on this reference. After that, the usual modern Submariner tells apply. In particular, fakes of the Starbucks 126610LV tend to fail on bezel tone and Cyclops strength, so start there.
The green and the black
First, the dial of a 126610LV is black, never green. A green dial means a Hulk, or a fake mixing parts. Next, judge the bezel. Genuine green Cerachrom is deep and even. Fakes often miss it, either too bright or too olive. Compare it under daylight with a known genuine photo on rolex.com.
Genuine: bezel action and alignment
- Divers' bezels: 120 firm, evenly spaced clicks, one direction only
- Pearl or triangle lands exactly on 12 at every full click
- No back-play or wobble when pressed
Warning signs
- Fewer or mushy clicks, or it turns both ways
- Triangle stops just short of or past 12
- Gritty feel and a hollow, high-pitched sound
Cyclops, rehaut and engravings
The Cyclops should enlarge the date about 2.5 times. Engraved "ROLEX" text runs round the inner ring, broken at 6 o'clock by the serial. Under the bracelet at 12, the case carries the reference number. Then look for two coronets: one etched in the sapphire just above 6, and one printed between SWISS and MADE.
Genuine: cyclops magnification
- Date fills the lens edge to edge
- Numerals stay sharp right to the lens rim
- Lens sits centred over the date window
Warning signs
- Date looks small, with a visible margin
- Lens slightly off-centre or bubbled
- Strong blue anti-glare tint on top of the lens
Lume and caseback
In the dark, markers and hands should glow blue and evenly. The caseback is solid and plain, with no window. So a glass back means someone has modified the watch. Similarly, lume that glows green rather than blue suggests a replaced or non-Rolex dial.
Genuine: lume colour and application
- Modern pieces glow blue (Chromalight) and stay bright for hours
- Every marker and hand glows at the same intensity
- Lume plots filled neatly to the edge of the surround
Warning signs
- Green or mixed-colour glow on a modern reference
- Hands and markers fade at different rates
- Overfilled or thin, lumpy plots under a loupe
What only a watchmaker can confirm
A watchmaker opening the case should find the calibre 3235. Check the blue Parachrom hairspring, Chronergy escapement and clean bridge engraving. Clone movements copy the layout but not the finishing. A timing check adds evidence. Also ask the watchmaker to remove the bezel insert if anything seems off. Our real vs fake Rolex guide lists the full sequence.
Who the 126610LV suits, and the alternatives
The Starbucks 126610LV suits someone after a steel Sub with some character, without the Hulk's price. The green reads as dark in most light, so it stays versatile. It also suits anyone who owns a black watch already.
The black 126610LN is the obvious alternative and is cheaper to buy and insure. If you want a full-green look, the discontinued Hulk is the step up. For other routes, see Submariner vs GMT-Master II and Yacht-Master vs Submariner. Our used Rolex price guide ranks all three green options.
How the green wears
Indoors and under cloud, the bezel reads almost black. In direct sun it turns a clear emerald. That shift is the main reason owners choose it, and it is hard to judge from photos. So try one on in daylight before you commit.
The case and bracelet wear exactly like the 126610LN. So anyone comfortable with a 41 mm steel Sub will be comfortable here. However, green draws more attention than black, which matters to some owners when travelling.
Submariner Date 126610LN
The benchmark black steel Submariner Date. Most liquid reference in the line, 70-hour calibre 3235.
Submariner Date 116610LV
Green dial, green ceramic, 2010–2020: Hulk prices, dial shades and conversion traps. Discontinued
Submariner Date 16610
The 1988–2010 aluminium-bezel Sub Date: dial eras, serial letters and what each one costs now. Discontinued
Starbucks 126610LV FAQ
Why is the 126610LV called the Starbucks?
Collectors coined the name because the green bezel and black dial echo the coffee chain's green-and-black logo. It is an informal nickname, never used by Rolex. Some people still call it the Kermit, after the 2003 green-bezel 16610LV.
Is the Starbucks Submariner worth more than the black one?
Yes, modestly. In October 2026 an excellent full set asks about US$700 more than an equivalent 126610LN. Its US list price is also US$550 higher, so the gap in premium over retail is small.
How much is the 126610LV in Malaysia?
Rolex Malaysia lists it at RM51,500. An excellent pre-owned set converts to roughly RM60,000 to RM66,000 at 4.08 MYR per USD, and watch-only examples to roughly RM54,000 to RM60,000.
Does the green ceramic bezel fade?
No. Cerachrom is ceramic, so ultraviolet light and seawater do not fade it the way they faded the aluminium Kermit insert. It can chip under a hard knock, however, and a replacement insert is costly.
What is the difference between the Kermit and the Starbucks?
The 16610LV Kermit (2003-2010) had a 40 mm case, an aluminium green insert and the 48-hour calibre 3135. The Starbucks has a ceramic insert, a 41 mm case and the 70-hour calibre 3235.
Is the Starbucks 126610LV being discontinued?
Rolex never announces discontinuations in advance. As of October 2026 the 126610LV-0002 is still in the catalogue at US$11,900. Rumours appear before every Watches and Wonders fair, so do not pay extra on speculation alone.
Last updated . Written and fact-checked by the Rolex Malaysian editorial team. Specifications and prices are re-checked quarterly.