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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales Returns Roll Forward [Abstract]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales Returns Roll Forward

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

			Balance at									Balance at
			Beginning									End of
			of Period			Additions			Deductions			Period
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales
	Returns:
	2013		$	8,240		$	4,386		$	(5,569)		$	7,057
	2012		$	8,584		$	7,298		$	(7,642)		$	8,240
	2011		$	6,196		$	9,932		$	(7,544)		$	8,584

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

							Quoted Prices
							in Active			Significant
							Markets			Other			Significant
				Total at			for Identical			Observable			Unobservable
				December 31,			Assets			Inputs			Inputs
				2013			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities			$	556,539		$	-		$	556,539		$	-
	Foreign government securities				139,670			-			139,670			-
	Corporate debt securities				629,434			-			629,434			-
	Time deposits				74,050			-			74,050			-
	Equity securities				147			-			147			-
	Other cash equivalents				62,851			-			62,851			-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets				31,203			-			31,203			-
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements			929			-			929			-
		Total		$	1,494,823		$	-		$	1,494,823		$	-
Liabilities:
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements		$	88		$	-		$	88		$	-
		Total		$	88		$	-		$	88		$	-

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):

							Quoted Prices
							in Active			Significant
							Markets			Other			Significant
				Total at			for Identical			Observable			Unobservable
				December 31,			Assets			Inputs			Inputs
				2012			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities			$	470,421		$	-		$	470,421		$	-
	Foreign government securities				313,237			-			313,237			-
	Corporate debt securities				311,607			-			311,607			-
	Time deposits				64,037			-			64,037			-
	Equity securities				70			-			70			-
	Other cash equivalents				44,850			-			44,850			-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets				24,827			-			24,827			-
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements			1,173			-			1,173			-
		Total		$	1,230,222		$	-		$	1,230,222		$	-
Liabilities:
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements		$	693		$	-		$	693		$	-
		Total		$	693		$	-		$	693		$	-

Summary of Derivative Instruments by Risk Exposure [Abstract]

Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts

The following is a summary of the activity in the statements of operations related to the forward foreign exchange contracts (in thousands):

			Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
Realized gains (losses) on closed contracts			$	8,666		$	4,186		$	(2,233)
Unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts				361			1,716			(1,035)
	Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses)		$	9,027		$	5,902			(3,268)

Fair Value of Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Company's foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
Other current assets			$	929		$	1,173
Other current liabilities			$	88		$	693

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's accrued warranty liability for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

			Balance at									Balance at
			Beginning			Accruals for			Settlements			End of
			of Period			Warranties			Made			Period
Accrued warranty liability:
	2013		$	12,353		$	8,466		$	(7,857)		$	12,962
	2012		$	13,258		$	7,212		$	(8,117)		$	12,353
	2011		$	11,272		$	10,175		$	(8,189)		$	13,258

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Tabular disclosure of assets and liabilities, including [financial] instruments measured at fair value that are classified in stockholders' equity, if any, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The disclosures contemplated herein include the fair value measurements at the reporting date by the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19190-110258

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Tabular disclosure of the presentation of foreign exchange contracts on the statement of financial position, including the fair value amounts and location of such amounts.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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Tabular disclosure of the changes in the guarantor's aggregate product warranty liability, including the beginning balance of the aggregate product warranty liability, the aggregate reductions in that liability for payments made (in cash or in kind) under the warranty, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to product warranties issued during the reporting period, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to preexisting warranties (including adjustments related to changes in estimates), and the ending balance of the aggregate product warranty liability.

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-Topic 460

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Disclosure of the reconciliation of the allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns balance from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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