The Short Answer
The reference 116610LV is the Rolex Submariner Date with a green dial and a green ceramic bezel, known among collectors as the Hulk. If a search for a fake Rolex 116610LV brought you here, start with the fact that matters most: in the United States, buying, importing, or reselling a counterfeit watch is illegal. Shipments get detained and destroyed, the seller keeps your money, and no warranty or service network stands behind the watch. The practical path to the Hulk look is either a used genuine Submariner you can authenticate, or a legal Submariner-style diver from a brand that does not copy protected trademarks. The sections below cover the specs that decide whether a green Submariner-style watch is worth owning, and the claims that never hold up.
What 116610LV Actually Means
Rolex reference numbers carry information. The 116610 identifies the 40 mm Submariner Date case generation produced from 2010 to 2020. The LV suffix comes from lunette verte, French for green bezel. That generation paired the green bezel with a matching green dial, which is where the Hulk nickname comes from. Rolex retired it in 2020 and replaced it with the 126610LV, a 41 mm case with a green bezel and a black dial. If a listing describes a 116610LV with a black dial, the seller either confused two references or is using the number as decoration.
What to Look For in a Submariner-Style Watch
Case size and proportions
- Genuine 116610LV: 40 mm diameter, about 47.5 mm lug to lug, 12.5 mm thick
- Comfortable range for most wrists: 39 to 41 mm diameter, lug to lug under 50 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm, which keeps strap and bracelet swaps easy
Proportions matter more than the headline number. A 41 mm case with a 51 mm lug-to-lug measurement will overhang a 6.5 inch wrist and wear like a brick.
Bezel and insert
The genuine watch uses a ceramic Cerachrom insert with a platinum-coated scale and 120 unidirectional clicks. Legal alternatives use ceramic, sapphire, or aluminum. Ceramic resists scratches and holds its color. Aluminum scratches but costs less to replace. Confirm that the bezel turns one way only, has no back play, and that the triangle lines up with the 12 o'clock marker.
Movement
Expect an automatic movement with hacking, meaning the seconds hand stops when you pull the crown, plus a quick-set date. Power reserve runs from roughly 38 hours on basic movements to 70 hours on newer ones. A smooth sweeping seconds hand and a date that flips cleanly near midnight are the two easiest checks you can run on the spot.
Water resistance
- 30 m or 50 m: splash protection only, do not swim
- 100 m: swimming and showering
- 200 m and above: real dive-watch territory, normally with a screw-down crown
The genuine Submariner is rated to 300 m. A depth rating means little if the crown is push-pull rather than screw-down, so verify that before trusting a pool.
Crystal, lume, and bracelet
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside is the baseline. Mineral glass scratches. Lume should glow evenly and stay readable for several hours; blue is the modern Submariner look and green is the older one. On the bracelet, look for solid end links that sit flush against the case, screwed links rather than pin-and-collar, and a clasp that closes with a firm click and no rattle.
Parameter Bands Worth Keeping
- Case diameter: 39 to 41 mm
- Lug to lug: 46 to 50 mm
- Thickness: 11 to 13.5 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Water resistance: 200 m or better for a daily diver
- Accuracy: within 10 seconds a day is acceptable at this tier, within 5 is good
- Power reserve: 40 hours minimum, 70 preferred
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Listings that promise 1:1 quality or Swiss made parts on a counterfeit. Those words are marketing, and the watch behind them is still contraband.
- Payment methods without chargeback rights. Once the money moves, you have no recourse when a parcel is seized or never ships.
- Photos borrowed from the genuine model. Ask for dated pictures of the actual watch, including the caseback and clasp.
- Claims of 904L steel or a Swiss movement from a seller who will not show a movement photo.
- Customs letters. If your parcel is detained, you typically lose both the watch and the money.
- No service path. A failed clone movement often costs more to replace than the watch is worth.
FAQ
Is buying a fake Submariner legal in the US?
No. Counterfeit goods violate federal trademark law, and importing them can lead to seizure, fines, and in trafficking cases, criminal charges. That legal exposure is the strongest argument for choosing a legal homage instead.
Is the Hulk discontinued?
Yes. Rolex discontinued the 116610LV in 2020 and replaced it with the 126610LV, which has a black dial and a green bezel.
Can I get the green Submariner look legally?
Yes. Established dive-watch brands and microbrands sell 40 mm steel divers with green bezels and green dials. They use their own designs, carry warranties, and keep service and resale options open.
Should I buy a used genuine watch instead?
If the budget allows, a used genuine Submariner holds value and can be serviced. Buy from a seller with verifiable references, request a recent service record, and have the watch authenticated by a watchmaker before payment changes hands.