Waterford Crystal supplied the decorative panels for the Times Square Ball used in New York's New Year's Eve celebration.
Waterford, an Irish crystal manufacturer, began its association with the Times Square Ball in 2000. The partnership helped turn the object from a large illuminated ball into a highly detailed annual design featuring cut crystal patterns.
The ball's panels are arranged in themed motifs that can change from year to year. The illuminated sphere is lowered from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31, and the event is watched by people in the square and by television audiences worldwide.
Waterford Crystal is the maker, not the material name for the entire ball. The modern ball also uses metal, lighting components, and other structural materials. Its design has changed substantially since the original 1907 ball, which was much smaller and lit with incandescent bulbs.