New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes the annual Waterford Crystal Times Square Ball.
The modern Times Square Ball is covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by energy-efficient LEDs. Waterford Crystal became associated with the ball in 2000, when a new design marked the beginning of the new millennium. Later versions grew in size and complexity, using hundreds of triangular panels and millions of colors produced by programmable lighting systems.
The ball is lowered from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31. Its descent lasts sixty seconds and ends at midnight, when the crowd celebrates the arrival of January 1. The event is watched in person and through international television broadcasts.
The crystal partnership does not mean the ball is made entirely of solid crystal. The visible panels are mounted on a metal framework that supports the lighting and controls. The ball’s design has changed several times, so descriptions of its dimensions or panel count should be tied to a specific year.