The Haim Watch Company, a microbrand hailing from Chicago, marked its fifth year in 2025 by unveiling a captivating new watch, the Annum. This particular model first caught attention at the WindUp Watch Fair in New York City, where a prototype showcased the brand's innovative approach alongside previous creations such as the Viajero worldtimer. Since its initial reveal, the Annum has undergone refinements, including subtle adjustments to its case design and minor dial enhancements. Now in its final form, the Annum stands as an impressive complete calendar timepiece, exceeding expectations for its price point and upholding Haim Watch Company's reputation for creatively integrating complications into highly wearable watches.

The Annum is available in three dial variations, including 'Dark Cobalt' and 'Stone White,' both featuring a CNC guilloché center section and applied hour markers on a textured outer ring. However, the semi-transparent 'Fumée' dial truly distinguishes itself, offering a glimpse into the intricate mechanical module beneath, reminiscent of classic skeletonized perpetual calendars. This dial variant displays subdial rings and a minute track in contrasting white and blue, with a white-outlined moonphase cutout. Despite its name, the Annum is a complete calendar with a moonphase, providing essential information through four symmetrical subdials for date, day, month, and moonphase. Priced at $2,149.99, the trade-off for this value is the need for manual adjustments for months shorter than 31 days, using recessed pushers on the case sides. These adjustments, especially crucial for February, April, June, September, and November, highlight the hands-on nature of this sophisticated yet affordable complication.

Measuring a compact 38mm in diameter with a 45mm lug-to-lug distance, the Annum wears surprisingly slim on the wrist despite its 12mm height. Design elements like the double-stepped bezel and a smaller screw-in caseback contribute to its slender appearance. The steel case showcases meticulous finishing, combining polished and vertically brushed surfaces. A notable detail is the modern interpretation of Cornes-de-Vache lugs, which enhance its on-wrist aesthetic. Powering the Annum is the custom HWC-02 mechanical caliber, regulated to +/- 10 seconds per day. This movement ingeniously combines a Miyota 9000 base with Haim's proprietary calendar module, a testament to the brand's problem-solving ethos, inspired by a scarcity of vintage perpetual calendar movements. The smoked Fumée dial is particularly recommended for its ability to reveal this innovative module. The HWC-02 movement features appealing visual embellishments through its exhibition caseback, such as striping on the plates and a distinctive rotor designed to mimic a peripheral rotor, adding a playful touch for watch enthusiasts. Ultimately, the Annum delivers a compelling blend of value, design, and mechanical ingenuity, making it a standout in the microbrand segment for under $2,500, especially for collectors seeking a unique take on vintage calendar watches, even with its manual adjustment requirements.