Rolex Kermit vs Rolex Hulk | Bob's Watches

In this Rolex Submariner comparison video, we’re going to take a look at the similarities and differences between the two green Submariner watches: the Rolex Submariner ref. 16610LV “Kermit” and the Rolex Submariner ref. 116610LV “Hulk” to see how they stack up against each other.

The Rolex Submariner launched in 1953 and was met with great success since its innovative and robust design was the first dive watch to offer 100 meters of water resistance. The classic Submariner style features an all-black dial, so the Rolex Submariner Hulk 116610LV caused a stir when it was released with a bright green sunburst dial - marking the first time in the Submariner’s history that a stainless steel reference was offered with a dial color other than black.

However, before there was the Hulk, the Rolex 16610LV Kermit arrived in 2003 which celebrated the collection’s 50th anniversary. It was the first stainless steel Rolex dive watch to feature a colored bezel and also the first Submariner to ever feature a ‘Maxi’ dial, characterized by its larger hands and hour markers. There’s no mistake where the watch got its name from; the green bezel and black dial with large white markers is reminiscent of the famous frog character from Sesame Street.

The Rolex Kermit was discontinued in 2010 - the very same year that the Rolex Hulk ref. 116610LV was launched. While the Kermit only featured a green bezel, the Hulk featured a bright green sunburst dial reminiscent of the blue dials that are fitted to the yellow gold and two-tone Submariner models. Due to its all-green color profile and chunkier ‘Maxi’ case with thicker lugs and crown guard, the reference 116610LV picked up the “Hulk” nickname due to its resemblance to the fictional Marvel superhero.

Case & Design:
In comparison to one another, both the Rolex Kermit and the Rolex Hulk are professional diver’s watches, offering users 300m of water resistance. Both timepieces feature 40mm cases crafted from Oystersteel, a special blend of 904L stainless steel. Both the Rolex Submariner 16610LV Kermit and the Rolex Submariner 116610LV Hulk boast unidirectional rotating bezels for monitoring elapsed time while underwater; however, the Kermit’s bezel insert is crafted from aluminum while the Hulk features an insert constructed from Cerachrom, a highly corrosion-resistant ceramic material that offers superior longevity and durability.

Both the Kermit and the Hulk have ‘Maxi’ dials; however, the case of the Hulk is chunkier around the lugs and crown guards for a larger overall appearance. The most obvious difference between the two watches is that the Hulk features a matching green dial as opposed to the Kermit’s black dial. The dial and bezel design of the Rolex Kermit varies depending on its year of production: there are MK1 dials, flat-4 bezel inserts, and some of the later examples have inner bezel engravings.

Movement & Features:
Both the Kermit and the Hulk are powered by Rolex’s in-house Caliber 3135 movement that provides a 48-hour power reserve and operates at a frequency of 28,800vph. The movement has received some modifications over the years, most notably its blue Parachrom hairspring, which enables it to guarantee a timekeeping deviation of just -2/+2 seconds per day. First introduced in the late 1980s, the Cal. 3135 is widely considered to be one of the most reliable mechanical watch movements ever produced.

Bracelet & Clasp:
The difference between the stainless steel Oyster bracelets on the Kermit and the Hulk Submariner watches is that the Kermit’s bracelet features hollow center links and a stamped clasp with a fold-out diver’s extension, while the Hulk has a completely solid bracelet that is fitted with a machined Oysterlock safety clasp that has been redesigned and integrated with Rolex’s Glidelock extension system.

If you plan to do a lot of diving with the Rolex Submariner Hulk, the innovative Glidelock clasp allows for the bracelet to be quickly adjusted to the size of your wrist without the use of any tools. The Glidelock extension allows the bracelet to be expanded by 20mm in 2mm increments. By contrast, the wetsuit extension system on the Kermit allows the bracelet to be expanded, but it is an all-or-nothing affair that lacks the possibility of adjusting the clasp in increments.

Summary:
Although the Rolex Hulk and the Kermit both share the brand's signature green color and are powered by the legendary Caliber 3135 movement, there are a number of differences to be appreciated in terms of materials, performance, and size. Despite the Rolex Submariner Hulk watch boasting several improved features including its ceramic bezel and improved clasp and bracelet, many collectors still prefer the Kermit since it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Rolex’s iconic dive watch.

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