In New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, Waterford Crystal supplies the crystal panels for the ball.
The Times Square Ball is a large illuminated ball lowered from a flagpole at One Times Square shortly before midnight. Waterford Crystal has supplied crystal panels for the ball since 2000, helping create the faceted surface that reflects the event's lighting.
The ball has changed substantially since the first drop in 1907. Early versions were made from iron and wood and illuminated with light bulbs. Modern balls are engineered, electronically lit structures covered with triangular crystal panels, and the design has been updated several times.
Waterford Crystal is an Irish crystal manufacturer, not a New York venue or a lighting company. The annual event also uses a new or revised theme and panel design in some years, so the ball's exact appearance can vary while the Waterford association remains a central part of its modern history.