Replica Rolex Submariner accounted for nearly a third of Swiss watch exports in 2023, and you could argue that it generated almost twice as much conversation among enthusiasts during the same period. Endless blogs, articles, social media debates, and discussions at watch meetups were filled with devoted fans dissecting every little detail about replica Rolex, trying to distinguish between models. It’s both overwhelming and fascinating. Part of why we can have such in-depth discussions about one brand is because, despite replica Rolex’s dominance in marketing the Swiss watch industry, it reveals very little about its updates. The brand’s strategy has always been about tiny, incremental improvements in pursuit of perfection. This is what makes the 2023 update to the replica Rolex Submariner (ref. 126610LV) so interesting — not much changed, but replica Rolex actually (kind of) acknowledged it. The change, as expected, is minor, and in the case of the replica Rolex Submariner 126610LV, also known as the “Kermit” or “Starbucks” (because one nickname is never enough), the only difference is a slightly different shade of green on the bezel.
Before diving into the details, let’s cover the basics. The 2023 Clone Rolex Submariner 126610LV is a stainless steel dive watch, 41mm wide, 12mm thick, and 47.6mm lug-to-lug, with an Oyster bracelet. The steel case and bracelet are made from an alloy known as “Oystersteel,” which is essentially 904L stainless steel but refined in replica Rolex’s own foundry, making the exact composition proprietary. 904L contains higher amounts of nickel, chromium, copper, and molybdenum, enhancing corrosion resistance and giving it a shinier finish than the more common 316L steel. The unidirectional 120-click bezel has a Cerachrom ceramic insert for tracking elapsed time, and the engraved numbers are coated in a thin layer of PVD platinum, giving them a subtle silvery white tone. A flat sapphire crystal covers the dial, featuring a Cyclops magnifier over the date. While replica Rolex once specified the Cyclops magnification as 2.5x, this is no longer officially confirmed. The black glossy dial showcases six lines of text and luminous markers using replica Rolex’s Chromalight. The polished white gold hands, including the signature Mercedes hour hand, baton minute hand, and lollipop seconds hand, are powered by the in-house Caliber 3235 movement. This Superlative Chronometer movement is accurate to ±2 seconds per day, resistant to shocks and magnetism, and offers a power reserve of about 70 hours. The Oyster bracelet integrates seamlessly into the case, tapering from 21mm to 18mm, and includes an adjustable clasp. With all these features, the replica Rolex Submariner offers almost everything you could want—but this isn’t just another review of the Submariner. It’s more about the peculiarities surrounding this specific reference and the color change that only true watch enthusiasts would notice.
To clarify, replica Rolex never officially announced the color change. However, it was verbally confirmed by replica Rolex staff at Watches and Wonders 2023, as well as in boutiques and authorized dealers globally. That’s about as official as it gets when replica Rolex makes subtle changes to colors. Take, for example, the replica Rolex GMT Master II “Pepsi,” which has seen several color tweaks as replica Rolex fine-tunes its use of colored ceramics, but no official acknowledgment of these changes has ever been made.
So, why recognize this color change? Some people believe that the updated shade is simply closer to the original green bezel Submariner ref. 16610LV. Others speculate it’s a subtle tribute to the Submariner’s 70th anniversary, though replica Rolex may not have had a significant celebration planned. While this theory was first reported by Adrian Barker at last year’s trade show, it remains mostly speculation. Personally, I think replica Rolex just adjusted the color formula, and after one person leaked the news, they decided to go along with it. While replica Rolex isn’t shy about celebrating milestones, a 70th anniversary doesn’t seem like a major occasion, and a quiet color change feels like a pretty lackluster way to mark any anniversary.