The Times Square Ball used in New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration is covered with 2,688 crystal panels.
The current ball is a geodesic sphere about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter. Its triangular crystal panels are made by Waterford and are arranged in patterns that have changed over the years. The illuminated ball descends from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31.
New York’s first Times Square ball drop took place in 1907. The original ball was made of iron and wood, decorated with 100 light bulbs, and was much smaller than the modern version. The crystal-covered design is a later development, created to make the object brighter and more visually distinctive for a global broadcast.
The number of panels is sometimes confused with the number of lights or LEDs. The ball also contains thousands of LEDs, but 2,688 refers specifically to its crystal panels. Its design and lighting have been updated for milestone celebrations and later installations.