Waterford Crystal has helped make New York’s Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball since 2000. The millennium celebration introduced a redesigned ball covered with Waterford crystal panels and illuminated by computer-controlled lights. Waterford, an Irish crystal manufacturer, has continued supplying crystal components for later versions.
The ball has changed substantially since the small iron-and-wood sphere used in 1907. Modern versions are much larger and use triangular crystal panels arranged in symbolic patterns. The lighting system has also evolved from ordinary bulbs to programmable LEDs, allowing many colors and effects.
A common mix-up is treating the 2000 ball as the first Times Square ball. It was the first major Waterford Crystal millennium ball, not the beginning of the tradition. The annual descent itself dates back to 1907, with interruptions during wartime blackouts.