Tiffany & Co. is a nominee for a Luxist Award in both the dishware and glassware categories.

Over the past two centuries, Tiffany & Co. has built an international reputation as a premier jeweler and is renowned for its fine china and crystal. Today, its signature blue gift box topped by the white silky bow is an icon for luxury.

Tiffany & Co. was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in the late 1830's. Starting out as a stationary and fancy goods store, the partners soon expanded to include silver hollowware and flatware, and later jewelry, luxury table, personal and household accessories. Tiffany first achieved international recognition at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867. The company was then awarded the grand prize for silver craftsmanship---the first time an American design house had been so honored by a foreign jury. By 1870, Tiffany & Co. was America's premier purveyor of jewels and timepieces, as well as luxury table, personal, and household accessories.

Throughout the jeweler's history, the most prominent members of American society were devoted Tiffany customers from Vanderbilts, Astors and Whitneys to J.P. Morgan, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Paul Mellon, all of whom commissioned Tiffany to produce their gold and silver services. Tiffany china has also set the stage for countless White House dinners.

The tradition continues into the 21st century. Today, Tiffany & Co. is one of America's best known institutions.

Gallery: More from Tiffany & Co.