Triangle Waterford Crystals Installed on New Year's Eve Ball
The Times Square New Year's Eve crystal ball had 300 new triangle Waterford crystals installed for this year's drop. The crystals this year will have an interlocking ribbon pattern woven into a Celtic knot. The design was created for the theme of 2010, "Let there be courage." Take a look:
Waterford Wedgwood Placed in Receivership After Failing to Find Buyer
Waterford Wedgwood PLC has filed for bankruptcy protection and appointed administrators as the company struggles to find a buyer in this difficult climate. Waterford Wedgwood is a luxury lifestyle group with four brands - Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood, Rosenthal and Royal Doulton. The company's origin dates all the way back to 1759. Waterford Wedgwood's Waterford Crystal division created the triangle crystals for this year's Time Square Ball. The WSJsays the china, crystal and glassware maker never recovered after a luxury sale slump began following September 11th.
Group Chief Executive David Sculley said he is "disappointed" by the development but remains "optimistic that ongoing discussions will result in a buyer being found for the businesses."
Former Chief Executive Redmond O'Donoghue blamed the move on "mayhem in the marketplace" over the past three months and a lack of forbearance from U.S. banks. "We needed more time," he told state broadcaster RTE Radio. The company requested that its shares immediately be suspended from trading on the Irish Stock Exchange.
Waterford Crystal's historic appeal to Americans was also overtaken by a new breed of fashion-conscious buyer, shopping in midmarket stores and bargain hunters shopping for less-expensive, secondhand products.
Bloomberg says Waterford's German and U.S. units are not included in the receivership, which is a form of bankruptcy. See also the Financial Times, New York Times and the AP for more details about the company's ongoing problems.
2009 Times Square Ball Contains 2,668 Waterford Crystal Triangles
Pete Gravagna and Christopher Obianke from Landmark Signs install some of the 2,668 Waterford Crystal triangles that will be part of the 2009 Times Square Ball. The ball will set on top of One Times Square in New York and will make its annual descent just before midnight on New Year's Eve.
News10Now says the Waterford Crystal used on the ball was subjected to computer testing and wind tunnel testing to make sure it would survive tornado strength winds of 140 mph hour.
The ball this year is also a 12 foot geodesic spehere powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS. It can create a plette of over 16 million colors.
The new Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, double the size of previous Balls, and weighs 11,875 pounds. Covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals and powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS, the new Ball is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns producing a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.
You can read more about this year's Time Square Ball here. Below are some photos of what the ball will look like.
Photo: Countdown Entertainment
Update 1-1-09: You can see a clip of the ball drop in New York City here.
Waterford Wedgwood PLC has filed for bankruptcy protection and appointed administrators as the company struggles to find a buyer in this difficult climate. 
