116610 vs 126610: What Changed with the Current Rolex Submariner?

Rolex updated the Submariner across the board in 2020. The stainless steel 116610 and the rest of the first ceramic-clad, 6-digit watches gave way to the current production Rolex Submariner ref. 126610 and its various counterparts.  The case grew, for the first time in the collection’s history, to 41mm, and the caliber 3235 replaced the caliber 3135. Still, the new generation is very similar in overall aesthetics to the outgoing models, which raises the question: What exactly is the difference between the Rolex 116610 vs 126610?

How We Got to the Rolex Submariner 126610

As we explain in our guide to the Rolex Submariner, for decades it featured an aluminum bezel insert. However, as watchmaking evolved, Rolex began phasing out the material in the late 2000s in favor of tougher ceramic, which the brand calls “Cerachrom.” The new bezels were glossier than aluminum and less prone to fading, scratching, or corrosion.

This era also brought about a newer style “Super case,” which still had the same 40mm diameter and 300 meters of water resistance as previous models, but with thicker lugs, larger crown guards, and wider bezels.  Ref. 116610 was part of that generation.

Ref. 126610 followed in 2020, effectively replacing the 116610 and introducing several thoughtful refinements.

Rolex 116610 vs 126610 Specs:

	116610	126610
Full Reference Number	116610LN-0001 (Black dial/insert) 116610LV-0002 (Green dial/insert)	126610LN-0001 (Black dial/insert) 126610LV-0002 (Black dial, green insert)
Production	2010 – 2020	2020 – Present
Case Size	40mm diameter 12.5mm thick 20mm lug width	41mm diameter 12.5mm thick 21mm lug width
Material	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Bezel	Black ceramic Unidirectional	Black ceramic Unidirectional
Dial	Black Chromalight “SWISS MADE” text	Black Chromalight (improved in 2022) “SWISS MADE” text w/ Rolex coronet
Crystal	Sapphire, AR coating only on cyclops	Sapphire, full underside AR coating
Bracelet	Oyster bracelet Oysterlock clasp, Glidelock extension	Oyster bracelet Oysterlock clasp, Glidelock extension
Movement	Caliber 3135 48-hour power reserve	Caliber 3235 70-hour power reserve
Market value (2026)	$13,000 (Black dial) $20,000 (Green dial)	$16,000

Rolex Submariner Oyster Case: 40mm vs. 41mm

First, we’ll compare the cases for the two models.  Ref. 116610 is 40mm, while ref. 126610 is 41mm per Rolex’s specs. Despite the extra millimeter, most collectors can attest that both Submariners wear quite similarly on the wrist. Why? Proportions.

Rolex slimmed down the lugs on ref. 126610 and made the crown guards a bit more angled, effectively stepping away from the beefier “Super case” 116610 proportions.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the lug-to-lug measurement and Submariner thickness stayed about the same.

The larger 41mm case comes with a wider 21mm bracelet, which tapers down to just over 16mm wide. To compare, the previous ref. 116610 has a 20mm bracelet that tapers down to around 15mm wide. Both generations use the Rolex Oysterlock clasp with the Glidelock extension system to easily extend the bracelet up to 15mm-20mm without tools.

The bezel is largely the same on both Submariners, featuring the familiar black ceramic insert with a luminescent pip for the zero marker, and the case is hermetically sealed via a Triplock screw-down crown with 300 meters of water resistance.  The crystal on the newer 126610, however, now benefits from an AR coating on its underside for even better legibility.

Caliber 3135 vs 3235: Movement and Power Reserve

Perhaps the most talked-about and anticipated update was the movement.  For years, the caliber 3135 was Rolex’s go-to date movement.  Rolex released the caliber 3235 as its successor in 2015 and slowly began transitioning different collections over to the new engine, including the Datejust, Yacht-Master, and Sea-Dweller.  Many suspected the Submariner was next in line, and they were proven correct when the 1266XX generation debuted in 2020 with the caliber 3235 inside.

With the new movement came the brand’s more efficient Chronergy escapement, replacing the Swiss lever escapement from the caliber 3135. What’s more, the standard 2-day power reserve jumped to 70 hours with the newer movement, a big improvement for collectors who like to rotate between watches. While some owners reported low amplitude issues with the 32xx calibers, most keep great time.

Changes to the Dial

The 116610 and 126610 both have “Maxi dials” with essentially the same design.  Applied white-gold indices filled with Chromalight mark the hours, Mercedes hands still grace the dial, and the Cyclops and date take their usual place at the 3-hour marker.

Comparing the Rolex 116610 vs 126610, the minute hand is now longer and just barely touches the minute track, and the hour hand is a bit larger as well.  Furthermore, a tiny Rolex coronet now sits between the “SWISS MADE” text below 6 o’clock.

116610 LV “Hulk” vs 126610 LV “Starbucks”

Since we’re breaking down the 116610 vs 126610, what about the two green Submariners from each generation? Rolex celebrated the Submariner’s 50^th anniversary in 2003 with the 16610V a.k.a. 16610LV, which is basically a standard 16610 outfitted with a black “Maxi” dial with slightly larger hour markers and a green aluminum bezel. It also has an enlarged minute hand. The “Kermit,” as it has since been crowned, was the first and only Submariner to sport both a modern Maxi dial and an aluminum bezel. Rolex later switched entirely to ceramic bezels with the 6-digit Submariner.

In 2010, Rolex released a second-generation green Submariner via the 116610LV. This time, the green bezel was made of ceramic like the rest of the then-new 6-digit series, and the black dial was swapped for a matching green sunburst dial. The nickname “Rolex Hulk” was born from the watch’s all-green design and broader super case proportions. 

The 126610LV followed a decade later, in 2020. The green ceramic bezel stayed, but the vibrant green Hulk dial was swapped for black, leading to many comparisons to the original 16610 Kermit.

Its most common nickname is the Rolex Starbucks, but some have called it the Rolex Cermit, a play on Kermit and Cerachrom. The 116610LV and 126610LV are identical to their respective LN versions aside from color. As on the LN, the 116610LV boasts the Super Case silhouette while the 126610 has the larger 41mm case and the newer caliber 3235. The biggest difference is that the dial on the ref. 116610LV is green, and the dial on the ref. 126610LV is black.

Final Thoughts on the Submariner 116610 vs 126610

The newer Submariner 126610 is a testament to what Rolex does best – slow, thoughtful upgrades for its pillar models rather than a full-blown redesign. It is still very much a Submariner, just reworked a bit to incorporate a newer movement and deliver a better wrist-wearing experience.

While there is certainly a lot to celebrate about the newer 126610, there are still collectors out there who prefer the 116610, and even the 16610 Submariner for that matter. It all comes down to taste, but knowing the difference between the ceramic models, as well as what makes each one collection-worthy, makes the hunt more fun.