Offered for sale here is ‘THE KERMIT’. It forms part of the very earliest batch, with Y-9 serial, which dates it to production in 2002, and it remains in New Old Stock (NOS) condition with full stickers and a full collectors’ set to die for.
The MK 1 glossy dial is flawless. The first series ‘Flat Four’ insert is also in mint condition and presents a beautiful lime color making it very eye catching. The case remains also mint, preserving both side stickers and featuring more prominent chamfers only seen on very early versions. The case back also preserving the protective sticker for the Japanese market, where it was sold to.
It comes suited on its fully-linked Rolex Oyster 93250 stainless steel bracelet with AD4 clasp date code that remains mint, with only very minimal, unappreciable storage marks. The clasp might have been lightly satined at some point to remove storage marks. That explains the missing sticker on the clasp.
It is in full working order, keeping great time.
It comes as a full collectors’ set for the Japanese market which includes outer box with reference sticker, inner box, accessories, original purchase receipt, and punched guarantee papers showing it was sold on the 22nd September of 2003 in Osaka, Japan. We haven’t seen any 16610LV sold earlier than this so this one must be one of the very first ever delivered.
If this was not enough for a full set, this example is accompanied with the original press kit that Rolex presented in Baselworld when this watch was first released to the market in 2003. This kit includes the history of the Submariner until its 50th Anniversary, posters and a CD which tells the story.
This might indeed be the last opportunity to own a NOS, fully stickered, first batch Y9 series Rolex Submariner ‘Kermit’ with a highly documented set, making it a safe investment for the future.
Macros of the dial and case, reference and serial number pictures, as well as pictures of all the documentation are available under request.
