Rolex Hulk vs. Starbucks: how do they compare?

If you are curious about what Marvel’s Incredible Hulk and Starbucks have to do with watches, wonder no more. It all has to do with the color green and collectors’ knack for using easier-to-remember nicknames instead of serial numbers. A friend who is an enthusiast wanted me to invest in a modern Rolex dive watch, and since I could only get one, I compared the Rolex Hulk(116610LV) to the Starbucks(126610LV). In this post, I’ll be sharing what I found out. By the end of it, you’ll be able to decide which one to get if the opportunity arises. Read on!

What are the differences between Rolex Hulk vs. Starbucks?

Features	Rolex Hulk	Rolex Starbucks
What it’s made of (material).	The case and bracelet are made of Oystersteel 904L steel which is scratch and corrosion-resistant.	Made of the Oystersteel 904L steel case which is extremely corrosion resistant, much better than industry standard 316 L steel Similar material to the Hulk.
Oyster Case	The perfectly airtight Oyster case comprises a case back, bezel, and winding crown that bolts down tightly against the middle case.	The hermetic Oyster case has a case back, bezel, and crown that screws down tightly against the middle case. The same type of case for the two watches.
Bezel	Features Rolex-patented green Cerachrom; is rotatable in only one direction; marked with 60-minute; has a knurled edge to offer grip; and a glowing capsule on the zero marker for better legibility. Bezel color and function are similar.	Uses a green ceramic bezel that is in the Rolex proprietary Cerachrom. This bezel has a unidirectional rotation, an edge grip; and a luminous capsule on the zero marker to aid legibility. The Bezel color and function are the same for the two watches.
Luminous Marker	Features luminescent hour markers in simple shapes, made of 18k gold. Also marked are the hour and minute hands. Has similar markers, with slightly shorter hour and minute hands.	Features glowing hour markers which are made of 18k gold. The hour and minute hands are also luminous and visible in the dark. Has similar markers, with a slightly longer hour and minute hands.
Oyster Bracelet	The Oystersteel bracelet is equipped with an Oysterlock clasp. Bracelet measures 20mm at the lugs. The Hulk bracelet is slightly narrower.	The Oystersteel Solid-link bracelet has an Oysterlock with the glidestock mechanism. Bracelet measures 21mm at the lugs. Starbucks’ bracelet is slightly wider.
Water Resistance	Has a water-resistance depth of 300 Meters which is about 1000 feet or 30 ATMs. Similar water resistance with the Starbucks.	You can use this watch up to a depth of about 1000 feet, just as you’d with the Hulk.
Dial	Has the Maxi dial which features large hour markers legible Chromalight display, and a long-lasting blue glow. The Hulk features a green sunburst dial that gives stunning greens to black colors in different kinds of light.	Has a similar Maxi dial in black that luminescent Chromalight display for better visibility in dark environments.   Starbucks retains the black Maxi dial of some of the earlier submariners.
Case diameter	The case diameter measures 40 mm. Has a smaller watch face.	The case diameter measures 41 mm. The extra fraction of an mm gives this watch a more lengthened face.
Calibre (movement)	3135 caliber that lasts 48 hours after full winding. Less advanced calibre.	Has a 3235 caliber, which lasts 70 hours after full winding. More advanced calibre.
Price	$23,995 to $29,500. More expensive.	$13,995 to $26,000. Comparatively less expensive
Clasp Type	Steel Fold Oysterlock clasp that includes Rolex’s advanced “Glidelock” extension system, which prevents accidental opening and allows for on-the-fly, no tools adjustments.	Oysterlock clasp incorporates Rolex’s “Glidelock” extension, a secure system that allows for on-the-go, no tools adjustments.   Identical clasp type.
Crystal	Scratch-resistant Sapphire crystal. Does not have anti-glare.	Has glare-proof scratch-resistant Sapphire Crystal. Has anti-glare.
Case Back	Fluted solid steel piece. Standard Rolex case back for submariners.	Has Rolex standard submariner fluted solid steel case back. Similar simple case back.
Complications	Date Window. Rotatable bezel with 60-minute graduations for monitoring diving and decompression time. Has similar complications	The date version has a date window. Both versions feature rotatable bezels with a 60-minute timing dive and decompression.
Size	The Hulk has a 40 mm case diameter, a height of 12.3 mm, measures 47.6mm lug to lug, fits up to 200 mm(8 inch) wrist, and weighs 159 grams. It features a 20mm bracelet width, and the clasp is about 17.5 mm wide. The dimensions make this watch look squarer and bulkier.	The Starbucks has a 41 mm case diameter, a height of 12.3 mm, measures 47.6mm lug to lug, fits up to 200 mm(8 inch) wrist, and weighs 159 grams. It features an enlarged bracelet width of 21mm compared to proportions and the clasp now is about 18.5mm in width. The changes make this watch look less square and flatter.
Availability	Watch discontinued in 2020, making its demand much higher than what is finitely available. Difficult to get.	Although the watch is still in production, it is not easily available. Watch high in demand with long wait least, but much easier to get.

Rolex Hulk vs. Starbucks: How do they compare?

What it’s made of (material)

Rolex’s steel watch cases are made of Oystersteel. The brand’s exclusive 904L is cast in Rolex’s foundry and retains a far better finish than the standard 316L stainless steel found in nearly all competing watches.

Because the Rolex Hulk and Starbucks are made of the same oystersteel, it is a draw in the materials category.

Oyster Case

The oyster case, so named for its ability to remain underwater indefinitely without causing harm to its components, is exemplary of Rolex watches and consists of a case back, bezel, and winding crown that bolts down tightly against the middle case. It is made of sturdy stainless steel and protects the internal components of the watch from the elements.

It is a draw for the oyster case, as it is the same type for the two watches.

Bezel

Rolex’s Cerachrom bezel insert is made of a hard, corrosion-resistant ceramic and is virtually scratchproof. Its color is unchanged by ultraviolet rays, seawater, or chlorinated water. Cerachrom is also glossier and has a deeper green hue compare to the aluminum used in the preceding Kermit. The bezel has a silver grip edge that makes it better for you to grip in the water. The unidirectional rotatable bezel of the Rolex submariners is essential to the watch’s functionality, as it prevents rollback. Its etched 60-minute graduation allows a diver to observe diving duration and decompression pauses accurately and safely.

The two watches have identical bezels in terms of material and color, so it is a draw for this category.

Luminous Marker

Both watches feature luminescent hour markers in simple shapes – circles, triangles, and rectangles for contrast – made of 18k gold for the best luster. Also marked are the broad hour hand with the Mercedes emblem and the minute hand. The Starbucks has slightly longer hour and minute hands compared to the Hulk, due to its slightly larger base.

Although both feature markers are made of the same material, Starbucks wins in this category for the slight differences due to its larger size.

Oyster Bracelet

The Hulk and Starbucks submariners are outfitted with a sporty and durable solid-link Oyster wristband made of 904L steel, which matches the burly case’s lofty standard. The bracelet is made of flat three-piece links, which are the Oyster collection’s mainstay.

Hulk’s bracelet measures 20 mm at the lugs and 17.5 mm at the clasp, making it slightly narrower than Starbucks’ 21 mm and 18.5 mm, respectively.

With every other feature on the bracelet remaining the same, Starbucks wins for the wider bracelet.

Water Resistance

The two watches feature a water-resistance depth of 300 meters, which is about 1000 feet, or 30 ATMs, which is the best ever achieved by any Rolex submariner.

It is a draw for water resistance.

Dial

The Maxi Dial which gets its name from the bigger hour markers and broader hands is featured on both watches.

It has a luminescent Chromalight display, to improve visibility in low-light conditions; long-lasting blue luminescence; and hour markers in simple shapes.

The Rolex Hulk 116610LV has a green sunburst dial that changes its appearance and character based on how the light strikes it. The dial may appear black from some angles and a remarkable bright green color from others. The dial layout is otherwise identical to the standard black Submariner. Starbucks’ dial is black.

The Hulk, with its beautiful different, and striking dial, is the winner in the dial category.

Case diameter

With a case diameter that measures 40.5 mm (approximated to 41mm) the Starbucks is slightly wider than the Hulk, which measures 40.2 mm(approximated to 40mm). The extra fraction of a millimeter gives it a more extended face and a flatter look.

Starbucks wins a wider case, which gives the entire watch a more proportionate look.

Calibre (movement)

The Rolex Hulk 116610LV is operated by the time-tested Rolex Caliber 3135 movement. The movement is self-winding using it is automatic (perpetual rotor). It is COSC certified and has an after-casing precision of -2 to +2 seconds per day. The watch has a central hour, minute, and second hand, and a 48-hour power reserve. The Starbucks 126610LV differs in that it uses the Rolex Calibre 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.

The more advanced calibre 3235 makes Starbucks a clear winner in this category.

Price

Collectors relish adding the Hulk to their collection because of the watch’s popularity and limited supply. When it was first released, the watch cost around $8,900 in a boutique setting. Due to scarcity after its discontinuation in 2020, you’ll need to part with between $23,995 and $29,500 to get your hands on one.

Starbucks, on the other hand, is still in production and had a high price exceeding $13,995 blamed to high demand.

The prices for both watches are expected to keep growing due to demand. The Rolex Hulk is currently the more expensive watch and the winner in this category.

Clasp Type

Steel fold Oysterlock clasp includes Rolex’s innovative “Glidelock” extension system as a modern Submariner. The glidelock allows for 20 mm of sizing in 2 mm increments with no tools. Adjustments are made by tugging on the bracelet link, disengaging the lock from the detents on the clasp’s underside, and sliding the link into notches machined into the clasp edges. The Submariner bracelet also includes a detachable half-link. The half-link enables you to position the clasp on your wrist by using it on either end of the clasp.

Since the two watches use similar clasps, it is also a draw in this category.

Crystal

The Hulk has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a cyclops lens over the date that has two and a half times magnifying power to make it easier for you to read the date. Starbucks has a similar crystal, but with anti-glare as a new additional feature.

Starbucks wins for the anti-glare on the crystal.

Case Back

The case back of the Oyster is edged with fine fluting, allowing it to be bolted down airtight against the middle case. The case back on these divers’ watches is made of oystersteel.

Neither the Hulk’s nor the Starbucks’ case back is better than the other, as they are made of the same material and design, so it is a draw.

Complications

The watches have a date window and a unidirectional rotatable bezel, which allows the diver to track diving time and decompression pauses.

Similarly, it is a draw for complications, as the two watches have identical additional features.

Size

On the one hand, the Starbucks has a 41 mm case diameter, a height of 12.3 mm, measures 47.6mm lug to lug, fits up to a 200 mm (8-inch) wrist, and weighs 159 grams. It features an enlarged bracelet width of 21mm compared to proportions, and the clasp is about 18.5mm in width. The Hulk weighs the same, has similar lug-to-lug measurements, and can fit an 8-inch wrist, despite having a 40-mm case diameter, a 20mm wide bracelet, and a 17.5 mm clasp.

The more proportionate size gives Starbucks a more appealing appearance and makes it the clear winner in terms of size.

Availability

The Rolex Hulk is extremely popular. If you go to an authorized dealer, they might have one in stock, but you won’t see it on display, and they won’t give it to you if you aren’t their VIP customer. Many official Rolex sellers have closed this model’s waiting list. You have a better chance of getting one second-hand than from authorized dealers, though at a higher price.

Although Starbucks is still in production, it is one of the most sought-after and difficult-to-obtain watches in the brand’s lineup.

Starbucks wins for being more available as Rolex is still producing this watch and adding to the number in circulation, unlike the Hulk whose number is fixed.

Rolex Hulk vs. Starbucks: A comparison overview

Rolex Hulk Overview

Rolex introduced the 116610LV in 2010, which fans dubbed the “Hulk” due to its large, mean, and green bezel and dial. The Rolex Hulk was introduced as the heir to the well-known Rolex “Kermit,” the 16610LV submariner.

This Submariner, a dynamic and stylish luxury watch, rapidly became a collector’s item and Rolex fan favorite. With the debut of the Hulk, Rolex’s patented technology Cerachrom was made available in green for the submariners for the first time.

When compared to its predecessors, the Hulk has a markedly superior case. Despite maintaining an identical 40mm diameter, it is more robust, with wider lugs and a bigger crown guard. It also has a standard water resistance of up to 1,000 feet thanks to a creative Triplock screw-down crown.

Rolex’s in-house caliber 3135 maintains the time in the 116610 Submariners. The 28,800 vibrations per hour movement integrate Rolex’s unique Parachrom Blue antimagnetic hairspring, a full balance bridge to sustain precision in extreme conditions, and free-sprung balance.

Its unique features are a green dial matched to a green ceramic bezel with a 60-minute scale, a self-winding mechanical movement, and a 48-hour power reserve. Cerachrom allows for the perfect delivery of colored bezels, minimizing the risk of color fading over time.

Rolex discontinued the Hulk in September 2020, replacing it with the 41mm 126610LV.

What I liked

• Vibrant green color.
• Sturdy build.
• High water resistance.
• Valuable investment.

What I didn’t like

• The super case makes it look bulky and less proportional.
• Very expensive.

What are customers saying?

Customers view it as one of Rolex’s most beautiful watches ever, with a magical green sunray dial. A must-have item in a watch collector’s inventory, whose price is expected to keep climbing.

Rolex Starbucks Overview

The Rolex Starbucks is available in Submariner and Submariner Date versions, with calibres 3230 and 3235, respectively. What makes this watch unique is that Rolex has fitted it with a Paraflex shock absorber, which aids in safeguarding the watch from shocks that could impair its precision. Rolex watches with the new movement are 50 percent more shock resistant than watches with older calibers.

Rolex also invented and patented the Chronergy escapement, which improved on the normal Swiss lever escapement used in older calibers. The power reserve of both movements has been extended to about 70 hours.

Other notable changes introduced by Starbucks make the watch appear more elegant. The bracelet is a little wider, which creates a more streamlined transition and an improved proportion to the slightly larger case. The inclusion of the tiny coronet logo between the words “Swiss” and “Made” at 6 o’clock is a nice touch. The hands have been reworked—the minute hand is larger, and the “Mercedes” hour hand is slightly larger as well.

Despite these larger parts, the 126610LV appears smaller and certainly less bulky compared to the 116610LV, which is very impressive for Rolex.

What I liked

• Slimmer, flatter design.
• Brighter glow on all three hands.
• Self-winding movement
• Better shock resistance.

What I didn’t like

• Bezel 60-minute scale is not entirely graduated
• Too much writing on the dial that could alternatively be placed on the case back.

What are customers saying?

The watch is an excellent all-around. Collectors believe the Starbucks is subtle enough for everyday wear but playful enough for special occasions such as dinners, business meetings, and so on.

Final Verdict: So, which is better? Rolex Hulk vs. Starbucks?

Even though the Hulk has a unique and beautiful look, the Starbucks version is better as is more versatile, discreet, elegant, and packed full of better features such as more than 50 percent shock resistant capability; better visibility in and out of the water; and more power reserve. The ceramic bezel and the oystersteel body that it shares with the Hulk mean it will maintain its colors for a long time if you were to buy and keep it as an investment.

FAQ SECTION

Is the Rolex Hulk more expensive than the Rolex Starbucks?

Yes, the Rolex Hulk is more expensive than the Starbucks because it is more scarce.

Which has a better appearance between Rolex hulk and role Starbucks?

This depends on personal taste. The Hulk has a uniquely beautiful green color on the bezel and dial. Starbucks has an attractive contrast between the green bezel and the black dial and has good design proportions.

Which one is easier to service between the Rolex Hulk and the Rolex Starbucks?

Both require the same level of service.

Which is rare between Rolex Starbucks and Rolex Hulk?

The Rolex Hulk is rarer than the Rolex Starbucks.

Which one has better movement between Rolex Hulk and Rolex Starbucks?

When compared to the Hulk, the Rolex Starbucks has a more advanced and better movement.

Which is more popular between Rolex Hulk and Rolex Starbucks?

The Rolex Hulk is more popular as it has been around longer and has a unique look.