Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Sébastien Frey spotted wearing Rolex

Sébastien Frey, the 40-year-old French former goalkeeper who built his reputation across Serie A with spells at Inter Milan, Fiorentina, and Genoa, was recently spotted wearing one of the most recognisable Rolex Submariners ever produced — the Submariner Date reference 16610LV, better known among collectors as the 'Kermit.'

Rolex introduced the 16610LV in 2003 to mark the Submariner's 50th anniversary, pairing the established 40mm stainless steel Oyster case with a then-novel green aluminium bezel insert — a deliberate nod to the model's half-century milestone. The dial retains the classic black baton configuration with Mercedes hands and Triplock crown, while the calibre 3135 movement inside delivers a 48-hour power reserve, bidirectional automatic winding, and chronometer certification. Water resistance sits at 300 metres, consistent with the Submariner's professional diving heritage. Rolex discontinued the 16610LV in 2010 when the line transitioned to the green ceramic-bezel 116610LV, giving the original aluminium-bezel Kermit a natural production ceiling.

For collectors, the 16610LV occupies a genuinely interesting position. The green aluminium bezel fades and ages differently from the later Cerachrom ceramic version, developing a patina that purists find far more characterful. Its seven-year production run is short enough to confer scarcity without being so brief as to make examples impossible to find. The reference consistently trades above its original retail on the secondary market, and clean examples with original bracelets and boxes command a meaningful premium.

Frey's choice reflects a taste for vintage-adjacent sports watches rather than overt luxury signalling — the Kermit reads as a knowledgeable pick rather than an obvious one, which suits a footballer who spent much of his career as a respected professional rather than a headline act. It is the kind of watch that rewards recognition rather than demanding it.

On today's grey market, the Rolex Submariner Date 16610LV typically trades in the $21,500 range and upward depending on condition, service history, and completeness of set. Retail is long since academic given discontinuation, but the reference holds its value reliably — a safe horological choice in every sense of the word.