Haim Annum Review (2025): A Microbrand Annual Calendar & Moonphase That Rewrites Expectations

For years, the microbrand scene has been the most dynamic corner of watchmaking - nimble teams, honest pricing, and designs that feel personal. What most independents haven’t attempted is a true high-function complication beyond simple date or chronograph modules. The Haim Annum changes that calculus. Launched for the Chicago brand’s fifth anniversary, the Annum combines an annual calendar with a moonphase, wrapped around a customized automatic movement called HWC-2 that builds on the proven Miyota 9000 architecture.

The result is a compact 38 mm watch with finishing flourishes and functionality you rarely see at this price.

Annual Calendar, Explained (and Why It Matters)

Shoppers often ask: What’s the difference between an annual and a perpetual calendar? A perpetual calendar automatically accounts for varying month lengths and leap years; an annual calendar handles every month length except February, meaning you correct it once per year on March 1. In daily life, that’s a massive upgrade over a simple date. You enjoy automatic rollovers from 30 to 1 without fiddling at the crown every month, and you avoid the engineering and service complexity of a perpetual. For many enthusiasts, the annual calendar is the “smart middle” - real utility without the five-figure servicing anxiety.

In the mainstream market, annual calendars from big houses often start around the mid-four figures and go well into five

. A notable mainstream value play is the Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar (no moonphase), while pieces like the Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar live in a much higher bracket. That context makes Haim’s approach feel disruptive - particularly with the added moonphase and the finishing on view through the caseback.

Inside the Annum: The HWC-2 Movement

Haim’s Caliber HWC-2 uses the Miyota 9000 family as its backbone. That choice matters for two reasons. First, the spec sheet is modern: a 4 Hz frequency for a smooth seconds sweep and roughly 42 hours of autonomy. Second, the platform is well known globally - parts and competence are easy to find. On top of that base, Haim adds a proprietary annual calendar module plus a classical moonphase display.

Where the Annum distinguishes itself is in the visual theater.

Through the display back you get radially oriented Geneva stripes, blued screws, and a balance cock kissed with gold filigree - details that immediately raise the perceived tier. The headliner, though, is the oscillating weight: a gold-plated tungsten mass attached via a transparent disc. It mimics the airy look of a peripheral rotor without the cost and packaging compromises of a true peripheral system, while clearing the view to plates and bridges. It’s clever engineering in service of emotion, not just a spec sheet flourish.

Case, Ergonomics & Everyday Use

The stainless-steel case measures 38 mm across and 12 mm in height, with a trim 45 mm lug-to-lug and 20 mm strap width. The lugs reference cornes de vache (cow-horn) profiles but are interpreted with modern crispness - angular enough to lend presence, curved enough to hug the wrist. Finishing alternates between brushing and polishing to break up mass, and a flat sapphire with multi-layer AR keeps glare in check.

Four flush pushers manage the calendar and moonphase. They’re a practical choice that keeps the silhouette tidy and, when used in the correct sequence, make setting straightforward. Water resistance of 30 m won’t conquer a swim day, but for rain, hand-washing, and office life, it’s sufficient - this is a calendar piece, not a diver.

Dial Options & Legibility

Haim offers three personalities at launch. Dark Cobalt and Stone White present as classic: a grain-textured chapter ring framing a CNC-cut guilloché center, crisp applied markers, and cleanly framed calendar windows. The Fumée variant swaps tradition for transparency with smoked PVC that reveals the calendar module below - catnip for movement-watchers and an instant conversation starter

. All variants ship on handmade two-piece straps in French Epsom leather color-matched to the dial (dark gray, blue, or light gray). A fitted steel bracelet would broaden appeal; here’s hoping it lands later.

How It Wears: The Numbers vs. the Photos

Some images can make the mid-case look slab-sided, but on wrist the dimensions tell a friendlier story. At 12 mm, the Annum sits lower than many modular chronographs and much lower than most entry perpetuals. The compact diameter keeps the head centered, and the curved lugs distribute weight nicely. The pushers are small enough to avoid catching a cuff, yet still usable without tools.

Value, Put in Perspective

Pricing is where the Annum makes a strong case. The retail sits at $2,149.99, with an early reservation price of $1,649.99 at launch. That undercuts many entry annual calendars from established brands - and adds a moonphase - while delivering thoughtful finishing and a considered design language. The choice of a Miyota base also reads as long-term sanity: serviceability should be less intimidating than boutique movements that require sending a watch across continents.

Ownership & Service Considerations

Because the HWC-2 rides on a known platform, most independent watchmakers comfortable with the Miyota 9000 series will feel at home. The proprietary module on top is the new element; as with any calendar, owners should follow the documented sequence when adjusting, and avoid setting around the changeover window. Real-world service intervals typically land around 5–7 years for a daily wearer; fewer if the watch sees rough conditions, more if part of a rotation. As microbrands mature, a supporting ecosystem of parts, documentation, and trained partners is increasingly the norm - Haim appears to be leaning into that expectation.

Where It Fits - and Who It’s For

If you love the idea of a calendar that “thinks” for you most of the year but don’t want the cost or complexity of a perpetual, the Annum hits a sweet spot. The 38 mm footprint suits a broad range of wrists and wardrobes, from smart-casual to tailored. The Dark Cobalt reads formal, Stone White is bright and versatile, and Fumée is for the enthusiast who enjoys seeing the machine at work.

Potential Drawbacks

• Water resistance: 30 m is everyday-safe but not swim-friendly.
• Dial taste: none of the three may be your perfect colorway; some will want bolder options.
• No bracelet (yet): the Epsom straps are quality, but bracelet die-hards will wait for steel.
• Calendar learning curve: like any calendar watch with pushers, order of operations matters.

Alternatives to Consider

If you’re cross-shopping: the Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar offers the complication at a competitive MSRP but omits moonphase and presents a larger footprint; the Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar adds METAS-grade tech and luxe finishing at a far higher price tier. Very few microbrands attempt annual calendars, which is precisely why the Annum stands out.

FAQ: Annual Calendar & Haim Annum

Does the Annum adjust for February? It handles all month lengths except February; you set it once on March 1.

Is the calendar quickset? The day/date/month and moonphase are adjusted via the side pushers; follow the manual for the correct sequence.

How accurate is the movement? The 4 Hz Miyota-based architecture is designed for stable daily performance; regulation can be fine-tuned by a watchmaker.

What about servicing in five years? The Miyota base is widely serviced; the add-on module requires brand documentation, which reputable independents can follow.

Can I swim with it? No - 30 m is splash-safe only.

Key Takeaways

• A rare microbrand annual calendar that pairs practicality with personality.
• Custom HWC-2 module atop a familiar Miyota 9000 base balances reliability and ambition.
• Transparent-disc rotor delivers the “peripheral” look without peripheral headaches.
• Wearable 38 mm proportions, three distinct dials, quality leather - bracelet to be desired.
• Launch pricing ($1,649.99) significantly undercuts many mainstream annual calendars.

Bottom Line

The Haim Annum isn’t chasing fantasy horology - it’s answering a practical question enthusiasts have asked for years: Why can’t a small brand deliver a useful high-function calendar at a fair price? With a thoughtful movement architecture, confident finishing, and dimensions that work in real life, the Annum is a milestone release that broadens what we can expect from independent watchmakers in 2025 and beyond.