Rolex Submariner Date 16610LV Owner Review : Whimsical, proportionate and addictive

When acquiring a Rolex was simply a pleasure... I'm talking about a time that now seems like another world. A time when you could walk into an AD Rolex, take a look in the window, spot an iconic model, and walk away with it... No waiting list, no speculation, no discreet phone call from a salesperson to their best customer. Just a purchase for yourself, for pleasure, for the thrill of wearing a beautiful object. And all this, at a still-reasonable price. That was 17 years ago. An eternity in the scale of contemporary watchmaking. At that time, I fell under the spell of a slightly different Submariner: a green bezel, a black dial, a more original look than the classic version, for a few extra euros. The Kermit. A now-legendary watch, marking the Sub's 50th anniversary and which has survived the years with its charm intact. Today, I'm lucky enough to also own its descendant: the "Cermit," or "Starbucks" as some call it. And having them both on my wrist, the comparison is inevitable... Honestly, the ideal would have been simple: retain the iconic proportions of the first Submariner with a green bezel, and simply give it a ceramic bezel. The best of both worlds. Because let's be clear right away: I've never been a fan of aluminum bezels. Everyone seems to miss them these days, but let's be objective—the colors fade, change, and end up becoming downright ugly. The famous "vintage charm" is not for me. I much prefer the bold, deep hues offered by ceramic. I'll say it straight: I don't subscribe to this sometimes excessive nostalgia surrounding vintage at Rolex. And what I understand even less is this race to enlarge cases. Why did they want to push the Submariner to 41 mm? The original 40mm design was simply perfect. Neither too imposing nor too discreet. Absolute balance. And when you achieve perfection, why try to change everything? In my eyes, the ideal Sub would therefore be a green ceramic bezel, on a 40mm case with the original bracelet proportions—a little more tapered, especially at the center links. That's my letter to Santa for the next generation of green Submariners. And really, what more can I add? Perhaps simply this: yes, I deeply miss the days when you could walk into a Rolex dealer and walk out with the watch of your dreams on your wrist. A time when you bought a watch for pleasure, not to speculate. It was a different way to love watchmaking. In the meantime, this Kermit remains a watch of the heart for me. A watch full of stories, memories, and authenticity. And despite my criticisms of aluminum, despite the evolution of standards, I give it a 5 out of 5. Because it deserves it.