The Times Square Ball for the 2024 New Year's Eve celebration was covered with 2,688 illuminated crystal triangles.
The triangles are part of the ball's Waterford Crystal design. They are mounted on a geodesic sphere and combine faceted crystal with internal lighting to create the bright surface seen during the televised countdown. The panels are arranged in patterns that can represent themes such as harmony, hope, or unity.
The modern ball measures 12 feet in diameter and weighs nearly six tons. Its scale is dramatically different from the original 1907 ball, which was much smaller and made from iron and wood. The design has been updated several times as lighting and crystal technology changed.
The number 2,688 refers to the crystal triangles, not the light-emitting diodes inside the ball. That distinction matters because reports often mention both the exterior panels and the much larger lighting system separately.