Demanding, ruthless and calculating. That’s how HVF Winstone, the biographer of Leonard Woolley, described his wife, Katharine. Qualities needed perhaps as a female in a male-dominated field. A pioneer, Katherine was one of the most important female archaeologists of the 20th century. She was described by people who knew her as ‘manipulative’ and a ‘mysterious minx.’ Her first husband committed suicide on the steps of the Luxor Pyramids, rumoured because Katharine was unable to have children. She was a source of inspiration to Agatha Christie, who based one of the characters on Katharine ..read more

We join the nation in mourning the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.   Her 70 year reign was one marked by public service and dignity, and all of us at Ogden of Harrogate extend our deepest sympathies to His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family ..read more

Platinum is the most durable metal in existence, and known as a 'noble' metal because of its resistance to tarnishing and corrosion. What more suitable emblem for Queen Elizabeth's extraordinary milestone of 70 years on the throne, one that only four other monarchs in world history have reached? The brooch HM The Queen wore on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday 2nd June 2022 is the Brigade of Guards brooch created for her grandmother Queen Mary in the early 20th Century. This diamond brooch, rendered in diamonds and surmounted with a crown, combines the badges of the five Household Reg ..read more

After the pain of the 2008 recession, by 2012 the UK was ready for a party. Not only was London hosting the Olympics, but the Queen was reaching the landmark of sixty years on the throne. And unlike Queen Victoria, her only predecessor to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II was healthy enough to take a full part in the celebrations, even appearing to parachute into the Olympic opening ceremony! The pageant on the Thames on 3rd June saw the largest flotilla on the river since the reign of Charles II, but was plagued with torrential rain, and the accompanying Airforce flyover had t ..read more

From our vantage point in 2022 it is easy to forget what an achievement fifty years on the throne is.  In 2002, the Queen was only the sixth British monarch in history to reach the milestone, and only the third to mark the event with a celebration. Despite predictions in the press that the anniversary would be a non-event, it was a huge success, and saw Her Majesty undertake extensive Royal tours of the Commonwealth and every region of the UK and for the first time, welcome crowds into Buckingham Palace gardens for public concerts. She even managed to fit in a visit to the set of Emmerda ..read more

The Ruby Jubilee of 1992 has been overshadowed by the other landmarks, but was always intended to be a lower-key affair, with just a handful of celebratory events planned, including a 'Great Event' at Earls Court in October featuring Dame Vera Lynn, Darcey Bussell and Sir Cliff Richard. For many reasons, not least a fire at Windsor Castle, it was not a year to savour, and at a lunch at London's Guildhall, the Queen looked back on it as an 'Annus Horribilis', or horrible year. In the photograph above, taken in Ottawa on a tour of Canada, Her Majesty is wearing her beloved pearls, along with a ..read more

It is difficult to overestimate the excitement created by the Silver Jubilee of 1977. As is the case now, the nation was experiencing a period of some hardship and upheaval, and the celebrations brought cheer to millions. On the day that Her Majesty the Queen visited Harrogate, 13th July, she was wearing an eye-catching diamond flower brooch, and a two row graduated pearl necklace. The Queen has often reached for her pearls - in fact she had two replica rows made to match the three row pearl choker given to her by her father on her wedding day. She is by no means the first Royal to appreciate ..read more

Over the next two weeks we are travelling back in time, 70 years to be exact, to the earliest days of Queen Elizabeth II! Every major landmark anniversary has an associated stone or mineral - Silver Jubilee (25 Years), Ruby Jubilee (40 years) - and so on. We will explore these in future posts and try to find suitable items from our huge stock to help illustrate them. But first, let us relive the moment of coronation, when it all began... At Ogden of Harrogate we have two beautiful replica crowns, made by our expert goldsmiths in our workshops in 1937 to mark the coronation of King George VI ..read more

If you have recently visited our new Curio Corner you will no doubt have come across the name Stephen Webster. Stephen Webster is a London-based contemporary fine jeweller established in 1989. The brand is known for its powerful aesthetic and its instantly recognisable collections. In our Curio Corner we have some pieces from the wonderful collection known as Astro Balls. All Stephen Webster collections are inspired by the things that move Stephen, emotionally. Be that music, art, film, words or in this case the 12 zodiac signs. Beautiful crystal gems are central to the astrology-themed ‘Astr ..read more

‘Curio’, by definition is a rare, unusual, or intriguing object. The word curio was first recorded around the 1850s. It’s a shortened form of the word curiosity, which comes from the Latin "curiosus", meaning “careful” or “inquisitive”. Some people collect one single type of thing, like coins or stamps. But some curious collectors collect anything they consider curios. And at Ogdens we have done exactly that. With the start of a New Year comes the start of a new feature on our website. We now have our very own Curio Corner. Here we will be presenting to you some of our more unique, interestin ..read more