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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
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, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
|  |  | Balance at |  |  |  |  |  | Balance at
|  |  | Beginning |  |  |  |  |  | End of
|  |  | of Period |  | Additions |  | Deductions |  | Period
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Returns: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 2017 |  | $ | 8,657 |  | $ | 9,059 |  | $ | (8,386) |  | $ | 9,330
| 2016 |  | $ | 7,496 |  | $ | 6,912 |  | $ | (5,751) |  | $ | 8,657
| 2015 |  | $ | 7,179 |  | $ | 6,739 |  | $ | (6,422) |  | $ | 7,496
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] |
Fair Value, Assets And Liabilities | The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Quoted Prices |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | in Active |  | Significant |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Markets |  | Other |  | Significant
|  |  |  | Total at |  | for Identical |  | Observable |  | Unobservable
|  |  |  | December 31, |  | Assets |  | Inputs |  | Inputs
|  |  |  | 2017 |  | (Level 1) |  | (Level 2) |  | (Level 3)
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| U.S. Treasury securities |  | $ | 591,988 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 591,988 |  | $ | -
| Foreign government securities |  |  | 6,952 |  |  | - |  |  | 6,952 |  |  | -
| Corporate debt securities |  |  | 1,975,160 |  |  | - |  |  | 1,975,160 |  |  | -
| Time deposits |  |  | 371,511 |  |  | - |  |  | 371,511 |  |  | -
| Equity securities |  |  | 147 |  |  | - |  |  | 147 |  |  | -
| Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  |  | 35,645 |  |  | 35,645 |  |  | - |  |  | -
| Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 566 |  |  | - |  |  | 566 |  |  | -
|  | Total |  | $ | 2,981,969 |  | $ | 35,645 |  | $ | 2,946,324 |  | $ | -
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Contingent consideration |  | $ | 3,247 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 3,247
| Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 182 |  |  | - |  |  | 182 |  |  | -
|  | Total |  | $ | 3,429 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 182 |  | $ | 3,247
The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recu rring basis at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Quoted Prices |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | in Active |  | Significant |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Markets |  | Other |  | Significant
|  |  |  | Total at |  | for Identical |  | Observable |  | Unobservable
|  |  |  | December 31, |  | Assets |  | Inputs |  | Inputs
|  |  |  | 2016 |  | (Level 1) |  | (Level 2) |  | (Level 3)
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| U.S. Treasury securities |  | $ | 570,313 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 570,313 |  | $ | -
| Foreign government securities |  |  | 17,991 |  |  | - |  |  | 17,991 |  |  | -
| Corporate debt securities |  |  | 1,643,838 |  |  | - |  |  | 1,643,838 |  |  | -
| Time deposits |  |  | 199,906 |  |  | - |  |  | 199,906 |  |  | -
| Equity securities |  |  | 147 |  |  | - |  |  | 147 |  |  | -
| Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  |  | 30,954 |  |  | 30,954 |  |  | - |  |  | -
| Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 60 |  |  | - |  |  | 60 |  |  | -
|  | Total |  | $ | 2,463,209 |  | $ | 30,954 |  | $ | 2,432,255 |  | $ | -
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Contingent consideration |  | $ | 3,007 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 3,007
| Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 730 |  |  | - |  |  | 730 |  |  | -
|  | Total |  | $ | 3,737 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 730 |  | $ | 3,007
Summary of Derivative Instruments by Risk Exposure [Abstract] |
Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts | The following is a summary of the activity included in cost of sales in the statements of operations related to the foreign currency exc hange contracts (in thousands):
|  |  | Year Ended December 31,
|  |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Realized gains (losses) on closed contracts |  | $ | 3,894 |  | $ | (10,401) |  | $ | (2,601)
Unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts |  |  | 1,054 |  |  | (883) |  |  | 742
| Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses) |  | $ | 4,948 |  | $ | (11,284) |  | $ | (1,859)
Fair Value of Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts | The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classi fied as follows (in thousands):
|  |  | December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Other current assets |  | $ | 566 |  | $ | 60
Other current liabilities |  | $ | 182 |  | $ | 730
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, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
|  |  | Balance at |  |  |  |  |  | Balance at
|  |  | Beginning |  | Accruals for |  | Settlements |  | End of
|  |  | of Period |  | Warranties |  | Made |  | Period
Accrued warranty liability: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 2017 |  | $ | 13,391 |  | $ | 8,746 |  | $ | (9,111) |  | $ | 13,026
| 2016 |  | $ | 13,349 |  | $ | 9,755 |  | $ | (9,713) |  | $ | 13,391
| 2015 |  | $ | 13,266 |  | $ | 8,390 |  | $ | (8,307) |  | $ | 13,349

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of financial instruments measured at fair value, including those classified in shareholders' equity measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Disclosures include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements recorded and the reasons for the measurements, level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements are categorized and transfers between levels 1 and 2. Nonrecurring fair value measurements are those that are required or permitted in the statement of financial position in particular circumstances. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19279-110258 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=SL7498348-110258 Reference 6: 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=66048111&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of derivative instruments (including nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments) of (a) the location and amount of gains and losses reported in the statement of financial performance and (b) the location and fair value amounts of the instruments reported in the statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5618551-113959 + Details
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- Definition 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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624163-113959 + Details
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- Definition 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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249 + Details
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