Watch Paparazzi

Artist Kano spotted wearing Rolex

Kano — born Kane Brett Robinson, one of the architects of UK grime and a BAFTA-nominated actor for his role as Sully in Top Boy — was recently spotted wearing the Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LV, the model universally known among collectors as the 'Hulk.' It is a watch that occupies a genuinely interesting position in the modern Rolex story: discontinued, immediately desirable, and still climbing in secondary market value.

Rolex introduced the 116610LV in 2010 as a 50th-anniversary tribute to the Submariner line, replacing the 16610LV 'Kermit' — itself a green-bezel, black-dial variant. The 116610LV went further, pairing a monochromatic green Cerachrom ceramic bezel with a matching green sunburst dial, giving the watch its unmistakable and polarising character. Underneath the 40mm Oystersteel case sits the calibre 3135, Rolex's workhorse self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and Triplock crown system rated to 300 metres water resistance. The bracelet is the five-link Oyster with Glidelock extension system — functional, robust, and instantly recognisable.

Rolex discontinued the 116610LV in 2020 at Watches & Wonders Geneva, replacing it with the updated 126610LV. Critically, the new reference switched back to a black dial, leaving the all-green aesthetic as the exclusive domain of the outgoing model. That decision transformed the 116610LV from a polarising oddity into a certified grail piece almost overnight. Collectors who had dismissed the green dial reconsidered rapidly.

For Kano, the choice reads as authentically considered rather than performative. His public persona has always balanced East London street credibility with a sharp aesthetic sensibility — qualities the Hulk Sub mirrors in steel. It is not the most expensive watch he could wear, but it is arguably one of the most narratively rich pieces in the Rolex sports catalogue right now.

At retail, the 116610LV carried a UK list price of approximately £6,050 before discontinuation. On the grey market today, examples in full set condition trade considerably above that figure, reflecting both the scarcity of new-old-stock pieces and the sustained collector appetite for discontinued Rolex references.