Joining the discontinued ‘Hulk’ and ‘Kermit’ Submariners, the ‘Starbucks’ completes what is known as the Green Holy Trinity of Rolex amongst watch enthusiasts. The green bezel has become synonymous with luxury, with celebrities and collectors adorning these models on their wrists.
The successor to the ‘Kermit,’ the Rolex Submariner Ref. 126610LV, known as the ‘Starbucks,’ launched in September 2020. The nickname comes from it’s black dial and deep green ceramic bezel, which bears a resemblance to the iconic Starbucks logo. This timepiece is equipped with the advanced Calibre 3235, offering an impressive power reserve of up to 70 hours, all encased within a 41-mm stainless steel shell. Notably, it features a Triplock winding crown, ensuring water resistance to a depth of 300 meters, seamlessly blending functionality with elegance.
The Submariner was updated in 2020 with a 1mm larger Oystersteel case. The unidirectional bezel is stainless steel and contains an insert made of Cerachrom ceramic.
This material is virtually scratchproof and impervious to colour fading from UV rays and chemicals. Cerachrom can also be polished, enabling the bezel to maintain a long-lasting brilliance. The Kermit 16610LV has a green aluminium bezel insert which makes the colour appear slightly more defined compared to the Starbucks model.
The Rolex Submariner Starbucks 126610LV features tapered lugs with more angled and symmetrical crown guards. This gives a less bulky appearance compared to the Kermit 16610LV. Both have brushed surfaces and polished sides with a sapphire crystal and screwed back case. However, the crystal in the Starbucks 126610LV features an anti-reflective coating on the inner side while the Kermit does not.
The ‘Starbucks’ also features a black dial with Chromalight hour markers, providing visibility in low-light conditions.
While the Kermit 16610LV and the Starbucks 126610LV bear a significant physical resemblance, their main differences are mechanical rather than visual. The ‘Starbucks’ is powered by the Calibre 3235 movement, ensuring exceptional timekeeping and reliability. It incorporates Rolex’s latest innovations such as the Chronergy escapement which provides unmatched accuracy and efficiency.
The Kermit’s calibre accuracy falls between -4/+6 seconds per day while the Starbucks’ 3235 calibre falls between -2/+2 seconds per day, a rating that is more than twice the required official chronometer accuracy.
Every watch enthusiast is well aware of Rolex’s exceptional ability to maintain its value compared to most other luxury watch brands. Rolex Submariners will always hold their value and are one of the safest investments in watches. The Rolex Kermit, produced from 2003 to 2010, has particularly shone in this regard. With Rolex no longer producing this model, the resale value of the Ref. 16610LV has significantly appreciated in the secondary market.
This highly collectible timepiece can be spotted on various marketplaces, often commanding more than four times its original retail price. Given its limited availability, there exists a noteworthy investment potential, as its surging popularity shows no signs of waning.
In terms of retaining value for future generations, the Rolex Starbucks is no exception. Provided you preserve the original box, papers, and accessories, it will hold its value admirably. However, when you compare the value retention of the Kermit versus the Starbucks, the green anniversary model boasts a higher resale value and stands as a superior investment option due to its relative rarity.
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