Everything We Know
Since 2020, the Chicago-based Haim Watch Company has been quietly making timepieces. Last year, it debuted the Haim Viajero, its first world-timer, in three elemental-themed colors: air, land, and water. The watch, which cost less than $1,000, soon gained momentum on social media due to its unusual features and pricing. Despite my initial unfamiliarity with the brand, I was drawn to its enthusiastic reception. So, when founder M. Zakir Miah contacted me and offered me a hands-on experience with a new limited-edition Haim Viajero prototype, I eagerly welcomed the opportunity to view it firsthand.
The stainless steel case is ideal for enthusiasts, measuring 38.5mm in diameter and 12mm in height, with a lug-to-lug distance of 45.5mm. The case is mainly polished, with a small ring of brushing on the extremely thin bezel; Miah says they’re all hand-finished. The baseband is rounded and joined to Cornes de Vache style lugs, which together give the case a more detailed feel that does not feel like it was snatched from a CNC machine.
The dial is surprisingly deep for its case height, owing primarily to the sloped worldtime display. And here’s the most notable variation for this tiny batch of 50 pieces: each city on the bezel is displayed in its original language. Chicago, Haim Watch Co.’s headquarters, is printed in red. The Western Hemisphere’s time zones may not appear to be that varied with a common alphabet, but when you look at Eastern Hemisphere cities, many of the character-based languages appear, and there is quite a bit of difference between regions.
This report is adjustable via the crown on the left side of the case at ten o’clock. Another ring rests in between the rehaut and the dial itself – actually, it’s a transparent disk with the ring printed on the circumference, similar to a mystery dial hand – this time, it’s a 24-hour time scale that can be set with the usual crown at 3 o’clock in the first position. Pull out the crown once to adjust it like a GMT hand on any other watch powered by the Seiko NH34A movement. Miah has attached a rotational world timer ring and crown to a standard caller GMT watch to make it world-capable, and the result is rather smart.
The Haim Viajero most striking design element is the central dial, which features a 3D relief map of the world that has been printed on. It’s subtle in person but visible when you tilt the watch. This limited edition dial is printed with a monochromatic finish, which obscures the three-dimensional look of conventional dials with more color variety. Protractor-shaped hands are heat-blued to match the blue hour markings.
When you flip the watch over, the striking rotor obscures the Seiko caliber. It’s an excellent example of how to return an open case for a highly industrialized movement. The caliber has a power reserve of 41 hours, and the watch itself is water-resistant to 50 meters. It comes with a dark grey crocodile strap created by Delugs for Haim, with both brands stamped on the back.
The Haim Watch Company Viajero “Global Citizen” costs $949.99 and is limited to 50 units.
Our Thoughts
When I strapped the Haim Viajero to my wrist, I had the impression that it was a watch that was designed specifically for the watch community, with a universally wrist-friendly case size, a short lug-to-lug distance, and an unusual execution. For a watch under a thousand dollars, it’s a remarkably intricate design, which allowed me to notice new details or elements as I wore it for a few days. Hand finishing provides the case with a more exquisite appearance than the sharp-cut edges I’ve seen at this price bracket.
There are certain compromises in its detailed construction; for example, the finishing on items like the rotor and the printing on the 24-hour disc might be finer. However, Miah informed me that the prototype sample I was trying on had minor finishing issues that would not be visible in the final product. I was also sent a standard production “Land” model (in green) and can confirm that the same faults were no longer present on that watch.
It’s worth noting that this limited edition costs more than the ordinary Haim Viajero, which retail for $799. Rather, the “Global Citizen” Viajero costs $949.99, which is a $150 premium. The premium can be attributable to a few unique components, like thermally blued hands, a Delugs crocodile strap, and a novel bezel that most likely does not realize economies of scale with only 50 pieces.
Is this version of the Haim Viajero still considered a value proposition? I believe so, but only because it is still under a thousand bucks. Even though it employs a relatively conventional NH34 caliber (and I’ve certainly criticized other watches utilizing this caliber at a higher price point), there aren’t any convincing alternatives on the market. If anything, it makes the regular Viajero models appear even more value-packed in contrast. While some may criticize the decision to manufacture only 50 of these, the brand does not typically produce huge batches of watches. Thus, this edition serves as a nice method to test the waters for future variations.
The Basics
Brand: Haim Watch Company Model: Viajero “Global Citizen”
Diameter: 38.5 x 45.5 mm
Thickness: 12mm
Case Material: stainless steel.
Dial Color: Grey
Indexes: Applied
Lume: No water. Resistance: 50 metres.
Delugs Crocodile Strap and Bracelet
The Movement
Caliber: Seiko NH34A.
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, and world time.
Winding: Automatic.
Frequency: 21,600 VpH.
Jewels: 24.
Pricing and Availability
Price: $949.99.
Availability: Now, with delivery expected within 6-8 weeks of launch.
Yes, a limited edition of 50 pieces.
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