There is a pivotal moment in every person’s watch-collecting journey. The point by which you transition from being someone who finds the topic of luxury watches interesting to the obsessive collector that you thought you’d never be. At that point, you may find yourself reading informative articles like this, based on niche collector’s topics and watch slang. Examples include terms like “Holy Grail Watch”, “Neo-Vintage”, and, of course, “The Hulk”. Speaking of which, what do Rolex fans mean when they refer to the “Hulk”? Let’s find out…
Before you became said watch buff, your tastes in wristwatches wouldn’t have been determined or shaped by what was or wasn’t unattainable. You knew what you liked in a watch, and that was that. But waitlists and soaring pre-owned prices tend to make people want what they can’t have. Suddenly, watch collecting becomes a challenge. A niche game of chance, patience and determination to acquire something highly covetable that elite community members highly desire. It becomes an urge to hit the jackpot with a grail watch – the ultimate collector’s piece. For many, that comes in the shape of a Rolex Hulk.
A Successor to the Rolex Kermit
The Rolex Hulk ref. 116610LV was first released in 2010 as a revamped Submariner Date. The watch complied with the recent changes Rolex has been making to its steel Subs, following updates to the gold and two-tone variations of the collection. It was the era of the “Super Case”, and the maxi dial, framed by a Cerachrom bezel insert. Its release was a complete surprise to enthusiasts, who thought they were waiting for a new steel model with a black dial and date complication. No one saw the Rolex Hulk coming or its bold green ceramic bezel and lustrous platinum-filled hour markers. Before then, a full-colour sunray dial has only ever been seen in two-tone configurations of the Rolex Submariner. It was simply unheard of in steel. Similar in ways was the 2003 Rolex Kermit watch, released in celebration of the Sub’s 50th anniversary, but even that had a black dial.
The Hulk Specs
On paper, the Rolex Hulk appeared to fit like a dream on the wrist with a compact 40mm diameter and gently sloping lugs. Yet, in reality, its proportions were beefed up thanks to the super case modifications, while the large hour markers glowed in a bright blue Chromalight material. The slightly rectangular case rather than round made the watch wear bigger on the wrist, which was a problem for those less-endowed collectors. Still, this less refined green Sub was powered by the Calibre 3135, complete with chromometer certification and a total power reserve of 48 hours to offer once fully wound. The 904L stainless steel case was an upgrade compared to predecessors made from 316L stainless steel, and the bracelet came with an innovative EasyLink extension clasp – a game changer for easy size readjustments on the fly.
The Legacy of the Rolex Hulk
The Hulk enjoyed a production period of ten years, where it was discontinued in 2020, making way for what we know nickname the “Starbucks”. That watch arrived alongside a slew of other models released in the wake of COVID-19. The entire range was sized up to a 41mm case during this period. The Starbucks watch has a green bezel and black dial configuration, so it can easily be classified as a modern successor to the Kermit. Given all this, the Rolex Hulk leaves a unique kind of legacy behind, arriving at just the right time on the market and demonstrating Rolex’s risk-taking and daring nature to revamp its most popular steel sports watch in such a drastic way. The changes paid off, and the Crown brand garnered even more respect for its innovative and playful experimentation with colour.
Today, the Hulk is still maintaining a strong position on the secondary market, despite the demand softening to a certain degree over recent years. Of course, its discontinuation greatly impacted its prices on the pre-owned market, but after several years on the watch, it is still demanding a price of around $20k, sometimes more. The Hulk is not even a rare watch. Rolex produced the watch in large quantities for ten years. Therefore, the value held in the watch speaks not only to the fact it is now a discontinued product but also because it is still a desirable status symbol amongst collectors.
At the time of its release, the Rolex Hulk was met with a mix of tepid acceptance and surprise. It was a curve ball that collectors never thought the brand would throw. But it did, and gradually, it was heading towards becoming the brand’s most desirable sports watch. It’s true that we never really know what we have until it’s gone; such is the case with many collectable timepieces.
As much as this is an informative piece on a watch term or nickname that many of us will have heard circulating the conversations held by watch enthusiasts, it’s also an appreciation post for one of Rolex’s most innovative and daring designs. The watch withstood the introduction of many other releases by the brand, including icons like the Pepsi GMT, the ceramic bezel Daytona, and the Explorer II with the orange hand. These models all experienced their own dose of fame and success, but the Hulk is a watch that has remained hot for several years now, and it will be interesting to see which way things will go on the market over the next few years. But never count Rolex out when it comes to reviving an icon. The brand has done it before and can certainly do it again.