The Times Square Ball introduced for New Year's Eve 2008 had 2,688 Waterford crystal facets.
The 2008 ball was created for the centennial of the New Year's Eve ball drop and replaced the previous design. Waterford Crystal supplied the triangular crystal panels, which were arranged in a pattern intended to symbolize hope and renewal.
The ball measured 12 feet in diameter and weighed nearly 12,000 pounds. Its illuminated surface made the object visible to the large crowd gathered in Times Square and to television audiences around the world.
The ball has been updated several times, so descriptions of its crystal count can differ by year. The figure in this question refers specifically to the centennial design introduced for 2008, not to every Times Square Ball used since 1907.