Watch Paparazzi

Actor Matt Leblanc spotted wearing Rolex

At what appears to be an outdoor evening event, Matt LeBlanc was photographed wearing a distinctly green-bezeled Rolex on his left wrist — unmistakably the Submariner Date 116610LV, the model the watch community universally calls the 'Hulk.' The sighting is a clean one: the deep green sunburst dial and matching green Cerachrom bezel insert are visible even in the fading natural light of the venue.

The Rolex Submariner Date 116610LV was launched at Baselworld 2010, replacing the 16610LV 'Kermit' (which had a black dial and green bezel) and introducing the first fully green execution of the steel Submariner. The watch runs the in-house calibre 3135, a 28,800 vph movement with Rolex's Parachrom hairspring, offering roughly 48 hours of power reserve and COSC-certified chronometer accuracy. The Oyster case measures 40mm, water-resistant to 300 metres, with the signature unidirectional rotating bezel now rendered in Cerachrom ceramic — scratch-resistant and UV-stable. The Oyster bracelet features Rolex's Glidelock extension system for precise on-the-fly adjustment.

From a collector standpoint, the 116610LV occupies a unique position. Rolex discontinued it in 2020, replacing it with the 126610LV — a slightly larger 41mm case with calibre 3235 and a redesigned bracelet. The moment discontinuation was confirmed, the Hulk's secondary market value surged. It is now regarded as a transitional icon: the last 40mm Submariner Date with the 3135 movement and the only green-dialed steel Sub of its generation.

Matt LeBlanc has long maintained a lower profile than many of his Friends co-stars, but his watch choices have drawn attention before. The Hulk suits his aesthetic — unpretentious, immediately recognizable to those who know watches, invisible to those who don't. It reads as a working actor's choice rather than a red-carpet statement piece.

On the grey market, the 116610LV currently trades well above its discontinued list price of approximately $9,550 USD. Depending on condition, box and papers, expect to pay between $16,000 and $20,000 from a reputable dealer — a premium that shows no signs of softening as supply continues to tighten.