New York City residents and tourists alike have a new souvenir from the nation’s 250th‑birthday celebration: a Waterford crystal taken from the 2026 Constellation Ball that drops in Times Square each New Year’s Eve. For a limited time, the crystals – each hand‑crafted over three days – can be personalized with a name engraved by master cutter Richard White.
How the crystals are made
The Constellation Ball, which weighs 12,350 pounds and measures roughly 12 feet in diameter, is covered with 5,280 Waterford crystals. Each crystal is formed through a meticulous process that includes design, molding, kilning and finishing. The crystals vary in size from 1.5 to 4 inches in diameter, and the entire sphere is assembled like a geodesic dome.
Personal engraving option
On Thursday, Waterford invited the public to purchase one of the crystals and have it engraved on the spot. Richard White, a master cutter who travels from Ireland to New York for the job, used a small electronic pen with a diamond tip to inscribe names directly onto the crystal surface. “To be actually here and to be up close, personal with it, is a real excitement for me,” White said of the experience.
Delfin Ortiz, general manager and senior vice president of One Times Square, noted that the engraved crystals become part of “tomorrow’s history,” offering a tangible link to the iconic ball drop.
Historical context
The tradition of dropping a ball in Times Square began in 1907 when immigrant metalworker Jacob Starr created a 700‑pound iron and wood sphere illuminated by 100 light bulbs. Since then, nine different versions of the ball have illuminated the plaza, each reflecting the era’s design and technology. The only years the ball did not drop were 1942 and 1943, when a wartime “dimout” was ordered to protect the city from potential attacks.
Pricing and future plans
Crystals are priced between $140 and $195, depending on size. One Times Square began offering crystals for purchase in 2025, but Thursday marked the first opportunity for buyers to have their names engraved. New crystals will be swapped in for the 2027 celebration, with a yet‑to‑be‑announced theme.
The personalized crystal program adds a new layer of community involvement to a national tradition, allowing individuals and families to own a piece of the historic celebration while honoring the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that the ball’s design represents.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
