Shin Ohno, a watchmaker based in Matsumoto, Japan, has been awarded the 2026 F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition prize for his intricately crafted pocket watch, the Fuyu-Geshiki, or Winter Landscape. The timepiece, which can also function as a table clock, integrates four watch complications, including a quarter-repeater and sonnerie mechanism that chimes the time both on demand and automatically at the hour and quarter-hour. Encased in ebony and brass, the watch is compact and weighs 122 grams (4.3 ounces).

The F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition, established in 2015 by Swiss watchmaker François-Paul Journe, seeks to identify and support emerging horological talent. The award carries a prize of 50,000 Swiss francs (about $62,250), intended to assist winners in acquiring watchmaking equipment or financing future projects. In an email, Journe praised Ohno’s work for its “serenity of craftsmanship,” highlighting the exceptional quality of his piece.

Ohno embarked on the Fuyu-Geshiki project while employed full time as an engineer in Seiko Epson’s watchmaking division in Shiojiri, Japan. He completed the watch over an 11-month period, balancing a demanding work schedule with early mornings and late nights dedicated to the piece. In May 2026, he left Seiko Epson to pursue an independent career in watchmaking and is currently fulfilling orders for a refined version of his award-winning creation.

His inspiration for the watch originated from a personal experience in the mountains near his home, where the tranquil sight of a small stream evoked a sense of serenity he sought to capture within the timepiece. Ohno’s interest in watchmaking began after viewing a documentary about Japanese independent watchmaker Masahiro Kikuno and his fascination with complex mechanical systems, such as traditional karakuri puppets.

Ohno’s path to watchmaking did not follow traditional training; he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Toyota College, in 2020. The skills he developed in computer-aided design and numerical control machining have underpinned his craftsmanship. During his time with Seiko Epson, Ohno gained comprehensive exposure to product development and production processes but sought additional hands-on instruction using traditional watchmaking tools through the Omi Watch, Glasses and Jewelry College.

Entry into the competition was spurred by the example of Norifumi Seki, another young Japanese watchmaker who won the award in 2020. After an initial unsuccessful attempt in 2025, Ohno persisted, driven in part by the encouragement of his older brother, Koh, who works outside the watchmaking industry but has been a steady source of support.

Upon learning of his victory, Ohno expressed relief rather than surprise, reflecting on the six-year journey since first learning about the competition. He plans to use the prize money to invest in a new CNC machine capable of working with a broader range of metals, enhancing his manufacturing capabilities.

Now working independently in Nagano Prefecture, Ohno is focused on establishing his career as a watchmaker. The recognition from the competition has altered his perspective on the scale and nature of future investments in equipment and workshop infrastructure essential to his growth in the field. Since going independent, he has already received orders through social media, reinforcing his decision to leave corporate employment and pursue a dedicated career in artisanal watchmaking.