How Do You Spot a Fake Rolex 116610LV?
A fake Rolex 116610LV gives itself away in five places: the ceramic bezel insert, the green dial, the cyclops lens, the rehaut engraving, and the movement. The real watch has a green Cerachrom insert with platinum-filled numerals, a sunburst green dial, and a Caliber 3135. Most replicas miss at least two of those five checks.
This guide covers what the reference should look like, which parts copies get wrong, and what to do before you spend money on one.
What Is the Rolex 116610LV 'Hulk'?
The 116610LV is the Submariner Date in 40 mm with a green bezel and a green dial. Rolex built it from 2010 to 2020, then replaced it with the 126610LV, a 41 mm model with a black dial that collectors call the 'Starbucks'.
- Case: 40 mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel (Rolex calls it Oystersteel)
- Bezel: green Cerachrom ceramic with platinum-coated numerals
- Dial: green sunburst with Chromalight hour markers
- Movement: Caliber 3135, automatic, about 48 hours of power reserve
- Water resistance: 300 m / 1,000 ft
- Weight: about 155 g with the full bracelet
The nickname comes from the green-on-green look. Demand outran supply for most of its production run, and prices stayed high after Rolex discontinued it. That resale gap is the reason the reference gets copied more than almost any other Submariner.
Which Details Give a Replica Away?
Bezel Insert
Real Cerachrom has a matte green surface with numerals cut into the ceramic and filled with platinum, so the numbers sit flush. Copies tend to use painted or coated numerals that rest on top of the surface and look flat. Fake inserts also lean olive or bright grass green, while the genuine insert is a deep forest green that shifts in daylight.
Dial
The genuine dial is sunburst finished, so the color goes dark at the edges and bright near the center. Fake dials often read as flat green, or they turn blue-green under indoor light. The date font differs too: the real date sits centered in the window with a crisp serif and no crowding.
Cyclops and Date
Rolex glues a 2.5x magnifier over the crystal at 3 o'clock. Many fakes magnify less or more, so the date looks too small or oversized. On the real watch the lens also sits close to the date window with almost no gap.
Case and Rehaut
The rehaut, the inner ring between the crystal and the dial, carries 'ROLEXROLEXROLEX' and the serial at 6 o'clock. On a genuine watch those engravings line up with the minute markers on the dial. Copies often drift out of alignment near the coronet at 12 o'clock.
Crown Guards and Lugs
Real crown guards have a smooth taper with polished edges that flow into the case. Fakes look blocky, with a thicker top edge or a visible step where the guard meets the case. Lugs on a genuine 116610LV are thicker than earlier Submariners but still even on both sides.
Bracelet and Clasp
Solid end links on the Oyster bracelet should meet the case with no gap and no rattle. The Glidelock clasp opens and closes with a firm click, and the coronet on the clasp is stamped in high relief. Loose links and shallow stamping are common on copies.
Movement
The Caliber 3135 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, which is 8 beats per second. A second hand that stutters, or that sweeps at the wrong rate, is a fast tell. A watchmaker confirms the movement in minutes once the caseback is open: the real Caliber 3135 has Geneva stripes, a blue Parachrom hairspring, and the Rolex name on the rotor.
Can a 'Super Clone' Pass as Real?
No. A high-end copy can survive a glance across a table, and the best ones use 904L steel, sapphire crystal, and a cloned 3135. They still fail under a loupe, on a timegrapher, or at a service center. Clone serial numbers also repeat across batches, which is easy to check against a reference list.
What Else Should You Check Before Buying?
- Price: a deal far below current market value points to a fake or to a stolen watch.
- Papers and box: a matching warranty card, booklet, and serial help, though paperwork can be faked.
- Seller history: authorized dealers, established pre-owned dealers, and long-standing forum sellers carry more weight than a new account.
- Inspection: ask for photos of the rehaut, the clasp code, and the movement, or pay for an independent authentication.
- Meeting in person: bring a jeweler's loupe and check the cyclops, the bezel numerals, and the date font yourself.
If you are unsure, walk away. A second opinion costs far less than a fake at a real price.
Is Buying or Selling a Counterfeit Watch Legal?
In the United States, selling, importing, or shipping a counterfeit Rolex violates trademark law and can bring civil damages and criminal charges. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments, and many states treat repeat sales as a felony. Buying a counterfeit for personal use is a gray area in most states, but reselling it as real is fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 116610LV have a date?
Yes. The 116610LV is a Submariner Date, so it has a date window at 3 o'clock under a cyclops lens. The no-date green Submariner is a different reference, the 116610LV's sibling 114060 in black.
What does 'LV' stand for?
LV stands for 'lunette verte', French for green bezel. Rolex uses the same suffix on other green models such as the 16610LV.
How much does a genuine 116610LV cost?
Prices sit well above the original retail figure, so check current listings from established dealers rather than trusting a single quote. Condition, box, papers, and service history move the number.
What should I do if I already own a fake?
Do not sell it as genuine. Disclose it as a replica if you pass it on, or keep it as a beater. Selling a known fake as real exposes you to fraud claims, and shipping one across a border can end with the watch seized.