What material gives the modern Times Square Ball its sparkling exterior?

Waterford Crystal gives the modern Times Square Ball its sparkling exterior.

The New Year's Eve ball uses triangular panels made by Waterford Crystal, the Irish crystal manufacturer. The panels are arranged over a geodesic framework and illuminated from within, producing the familiar glittering effect as the ball descends in Times Square.

The ball has changed substantially since the first 1907 version. Earlier designs used iron, wood, aluminum, and incandescent bulbs, while later versions adopted computer-controlled lighting and increasingly elaborate crystal patterns. The current structure is much larger than the original and remains on display above Times Square outside the annual descent.

Waterford's involvement began in the twentieth century and became central to the ball's visual identity. The crystal panels are not simply decorative souvenirs: their geometric arrangement is engineered to fit the ball's surface and spread light across the display. Swarovski is a separate crystal brand and is therefore not the canonical answer.