Rolex Submariner Date "Starbucks" - 126610LV

In 2003, Rolex celebrated the Submariner's 50th anniversary by doing something unprecedented: they changed the bezel colour. For five decades, every Submariner bezel had been black. Then reference 16610LV appeared with a green aluminium bezel and black dial. Collectors immediately nicknamed it "Kermit." It lasted seven years before Rolex replaced it with the 116610LV "Hulk"—green ceramic bezel, green sunburst dial, polarising and unmistakable. The Hulk dominated for a decade. Then in 2020, Rolex discontinued it and launched this: the 126610LV. Green ceramic bezel, black dial. Collectors needed a new nickname. Someone looked at the colour combination and said "Starbucks." It stuck immediately.

The name isn't official Rolex terminology—they'd never endorse it. But it's perfect. The green bezel against black dial creates exactly that colour palette, and unlike "Kermit" or "Hulk," "Starbucks" sounds almost respectable in professional conversation. Try telling your bank manager you just bought a Hulk. Now try saying you bought a Starbucks. Different energy entirely. The watch benefits from the association—familiar, accessible, globally recognized, slightly premium. Everything Rolex wants to project without actually saying it.

Forty-one millimetres, up from 40mm in previous generations. When Rolex updated the entire Submariner range in 2020, they increased the case diameter whilst simultaneously slimming the lugs and refining the proportions. The result wears nearly identical to the previous 40mm references—balanced, comfortable, appropriate for most wrists. The case is Oystersteel, Rolex's name for 904L stainless steel. Most watch manufacturers use 316L steel because it's cheaper and easier to machine. Rolex uses 904L—more corrosion-resistant, harder to work with, takes a better polish, costs more to produce. They've used it since 1985. Water-resistant to 300 metres, Triplock screw-down crown with triple gasket system, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with Cyclops magnification over the date window.

The green Cerachrom bezel defines this watch. Cerachrom is Rolex's proprietary ceramic—virtually scratchproof, impervious to UV fade, permanent colour. Traditional aluminium bezels scratch, fade, patina with age. Ceramic doesn't. The colour you see today will look identical in fifty years. The 60-minute graduated scale is engraved then filled with platinum via PVD process, creating contrast that's both legible and luxurious. Unidirectional rotation—turns counterclockwise only, preventing accidental movement during dives. Divers use it to track elapsed time underwater: set the bezel's zero marker to the minute hand at dive start, glance down to see minutes elapsed. Simple, effective, potentially life-saving.

The black Maxi dial features enlarged hour markers and wider hands compared to vintage Submariners—better legibility, more presence, contemporary proportions. Applied 18K white gold surrounds hold Chromalight luminous material that glows blue (not green like traditional Super-LumiNova). Mercedes-style hands, lollipop-tipped seconds hand, outer minute track. Date window at 3 o'clock changes instantaneously at midnight. The dial layout hasn't fundamentally changed since 1954. Why would it? They achieved perfect functionality seven decades ago.

Inside sits Calibre 3235, introduced in 2015 as Rolex's next-generation date movement. Seventy-hour power reserve versus 48 hours in the previous 3135. Chronergy escapement delivering 15% greater efficiency. Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring providing superior shock resistance and magnetic immunity. Thirty-one jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour. Superlative Chronometer certified—tested twice, accuracy of -2/+2 seconds daily after casing. The same movement powering the Datejust, Yacht-Master, Sea-Dweller, and Deepsea. Rolex doesn't make tool-specific movements. They make the best movement they can, then use it everywhere.

The Oyster bracelet combines brushed outer links with polished centre links—three-piece solid link construction, robust and comfortable. Equipped with Rolex's Oysterlock folding clasp to prevent accidental opening and the Glidelock extension system allowing up to 20mm of micro-adjustment without tools. Essential for diving over wetsuits, useful for temperature changes, brilliant engineering made invisible through execution. The bracelet alone contains more refinement than many complete watches.

This reference replaced the Hulk in 2020 and remains in current production. The Starbucks initially traded below the discontinued Hulk on secondary markets—unusual for a current-production Rolex sport watch. By 2022, it briefly traded below even the discontinued Kermit. Then markets stabilized and collectors realized what they had: the most wearable green-bezel Submariner ever made. The Kermit featured aluminium bezel that scratched. The Hulk featured green dial that polarised opinion. The Starbucks features ceramic durability and black dial versatility. It's the Goldilocks green Submariner—just right.

Black dial means it works with everything. Green bezel means it stands apart from standard Submariners. The combination delivers distinction without compromise. Formal enough for suits (if your workplace accepts sport watches), casual enough for weekends, functional enough for actual diving. Most Submariner owners never dive. They wear them because a Submariner represents seven decades of refinement, tool watch credibility, and the kind of quality that makes wearing the same watch every day feel like the right decision.

Purchased 2025, excellent condition. The 126610LV launched in 2020 and shows no signs of discontinuation. Rolex let the Submariner's 70th anniversary pass in 2023 without updating the range—suggesting this reference has years of production ahead. That's fine. The Submariner doesn't need annual updates. It needs to be waterproof to 300 metres, readable underwater, reliable for decades, and appropriate for everything from boardrooms to boat decks. This does all of that whilst featuring the most distinctive bezel colour Rolex makes.

The brilliance of "Starbucks" as a nickname is how it makes the watch feel accessible whilst remaining exclusive. Everyone knows Starbucks. Not everyone can walk into a Rolex boutique and buy a 126610LV the same day. The waitlists, the allocation systems, the authorised dealer relationships—all of that creates scarcity whilst the green bezel creates instant recognition. You're wearing something people notice, something people want, something that says "I understand what matters" without saying anything at all. The Submariner has always been the thinking person's Rolex sport watch. The Starbucks might be its most thoughtful iteration yet—distinctive enough to stand apart, versatile enough to wear everywhere, durable enough to last generations. Sometimes green and black is all you need.