On the last day of 2024, Times Square in New York (USA) was brilliant again with the famous crystal ball having just had all 2,688 sparkling crystal pieces replaced.
This is the first time in a decade that all the crystal pieces of the ball have been completely replaced, giving a new look to the symbol of the global New Year's Eve celebration.
Rapper Pitbull, who had the honor of installing the final crystal piece on December 27, contributed to completing the new look of the ball ahead of the big event.
The sphere weighs 5,386 kg and is nearly 3.7 m in diameter. The new crystals measure 12 cm to 14.6 cm on each side and are designed with two special patterns.
The 2025 model, with its long cuts and a circle near the top representing the 42-meter-high column where the ball sits, is a tribute to the One Times Square building - a symbol of the New Year's Eve festival.
Meanwhile, the Ever Crystal model consists of three pairs of interlocking circles, surrounded by diamond-shaped facets, forming the letter E symbolizing everlasting love and unity.
This year's ball also holds special significance as it will be the last time it will be dropped at One Times Square before it is officially "retired" and displayed at a museum in 2025.
The crystal ball first appeared during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square in 1907. At that time, the ball weighed 317.5 kg, was about 1.5 m in diameter, was made of iron and wood, and had 100 25-watt light bulbs attached.
Over the past century, the ball has undergone six iterations, each featuring a more modern design and technology. The current version, crafted by the renowned Waterford Crystal Company, has become an indispensable symbol of New York's New Year's Eve celebrations.
