The big New Year’s Eve countdown is still days away, but high above Times Square there was a preview Friday. The final crystals were put in place and the lights on the iconic ball were switched on.

“It’s the largest crystal ball in the world. It’s the one thing that people are watching,” Gary Winkler with the Times Square Alliance said. Times Square is sort of the world’s town square, and this ball is sort of a representation of what the new year and the new hope is.”

The Times Square Alliance says the ball is covered in more than 2,600 Waterford crystal triangles.

Rapper Pitbull was part of the ceremony. He gave the final crystals a quick clean in advance of the ball’s big night.

“I’m still taking it in, to be honest with you, especially when you read all the stats — I believe he said it weighs about six tons,” Pitbull said, acting like he was holding up the ball. “I’m watching now, making sure you know, and I’m looking out for everyone because you know I can hold this up. If it came down, I can hold it up, I promise you.”

The rapper said being on the top of One Times Square was a dream come true.

“To be a Miami boy here in New York with the most famous ball in the world that helps motivate, inspire people with the New Year’s resolutions every year, I mean, that right there is priceless,” he said.

This is the last year to see this particular crystal ball because it’s going to be retired after the New Year’s Eve celebration.

“We’re actually retiring the ball into a new immersive history, arts, and culture exhibit on the lower floors. And a new ball that’s designed a lot more interactively, technical or technically dynamic, will replace this in ‘25,” Michael Phillips, owner of One Times Square, said.