James Ogden was established in Harrogate in 1893 as jewellers. James Ogden (d.1940) began as an apprentice in the jewellery business of John Greenhalgh in the Market in Harrogate, before opening his own jewellery shop, the 'Little Diamond Shop' in Cambridge Street, Harrogate in 1893. The business expanded in 1896-97 and 1907, taking several further shops in Cambridge Street. Another shop at 33 Station Square was acquired in 1906, named the 'Little Watch Shop'. In this period Ogden also opened branches in Bath, Llandrindod Wells and Scarborough, leading to a contraction in the Harrogate shops; the satellite shops were closed in 1914 . In 1910 Ogden moved the business to 38 James Street, Harrogate, and expanded to another shop, no 40, in the same street in 1928.
Following WWII James Ogden's sons, William and James Roberts, joined the firm and a branch was opened in London, in Duke Street, St. James's.