Eiderdown Duvets
The most luxurious duvet in the world
From the Nordic settlers who came to Iceland aboard longships in the 9th century, through to the kings and queens of Buckingham Palace – eiderdown is regarded worldwide as the best that nature has to offer when it comes to luxury bedding. On this page we show you which properties make the eiderdown duvet so special, which brands produce it in which quality and how to care for your eiderdown duvet correctly so that you can enjoy it for decades.
Where does the down for the eiderdown duvet come from?
The feathered owner of the eiderdown – the eider duck – spends ten months of the year in the ice-cold seas of the Arctic. Its extremely dense plumage is its lifeline and literally decides between survival and death. When the eider duck returns to land, it lines its nest with this down to protect its young from the cold Arctic spring.
The eiderdown is collected in laborious handwork from the abandoned nests of the eider ducks – the animal remaining entirely undisturbed in the process. Around 50 to 70 nests are needed to produce one kilogram of eiderdown. For perspective: 1,000 individual eiderdowns weigh only about one gram. After careful cleaning and a purely mechanical, non-chemical processing, the down forms the filling material for the eiderdown duvets. This elaborate, resource-saving method of collection also explains the price of a genuine eiderdown duvet – you are paying for a natural material that cannot be scaled up industrially.
The special properties of the eiderdown duvet
The eiderdown duvet has physical properties that make it the most luxurious material for bedding worldwide. Four points make the decisive difference from conventional Down Duvets.
Nature's most effective insulator
Why do eiderdown duvets insulate so exceptionally well? Instead of the rigid structure of a feather – threads connected linearly to a hard quill – eiderdown is pure softness. Hundreds of tiny, microscopic threads are interlaced with one another and form insulating warmth pockets. This unique structure stores warm air better than any synthetic material.
Thermoregulating properties
When it is warm, the eiderdown duvet compresses to reduce the insulation and keep you cooler. When it is cold, it expands and creates the cosy insulation pockets for which eiderdown is known. No matter what the weather is like outside – an eiderdown duvet keeps you at the right temperature for you. This is the reason why many users can do without a second duvet and use the eiderdown duvet all year round.
Lighter than feathers, warmer than anything else
Since eiderdown has no quills, it simply feels soft. If you hold a small clump of eiderdown in your fist, you will feel a remarkable sensation of warmth. Open your hand and the clump quickly expands to ten times its original size – roughly the volume of a balloon. This ability to expand is not a marketing promise but measurable physics.
A lifespan of decades
Most commercially available duvets and down duvets already lose a considerable part of their effect after just a few years. You notice clumping or an uneven distribution of the down and feathers. The eiderdown duvet, by contrast, can be compressed again and again and still retains its original shape, its cohesion and its volume. This is due to the unique elasticity, the complete absence of quills and the natural cohesion that holds the tangle of microscopic fibres firmly together. With the right care, an eiderdown duvet will easily accompany you for 30 years and longer.
Caring for, washing and cleaning the eiderdown duvet
The right care determines whether your eiderdown duvet accompanies you for a few years or several decades. The same basic principle applies to eiderdown as to all down: moisture is the death of down. If you consistently keep this one point in mind, you have already understood the most important part of the care.
Important: follow the manufacturer's care instructions
The care of an eiderdown duvet depends heavily on the particular model and manufacturer. Some eiderdown duvets are deliberately constructed to be not washable – for example the eiderdown duvets from Billerbeck. For such duvets, only professional down cleaning is an option. Other models with a cover of cotton or batiste can indeed withstand the washing machine. Always check the care label and the manufacturer's information first before washing your eiderdown duvet.
Eiderdown duvet with a cover of cotton or batiste (washable)
Provided your eiderdown duvet with cotton or batiste ticking is expressly declared washable, you can wash it in the washing machine at 40 degrees like classic down duvets. What matters here is less the washing itself than the drying: the duvet must afterwards be bone dry. Residual moisture in the core destroys the down structure from within and leads to the formation of odour as well as clumping. It is best to dry the duvet completely in full sunshine – even though this is not recommended for other textiles, with down it is exactly right, because the UV radiation additionally has a disinfecting effect and dries the down thoroughly.
Eiderdown duvet with silk ticking or non-washable duvets
If your eiderdown duvet has a silk ticking or is marked by the manufacturer as not washable, it must not be washed in the washing machine. Silk withstands neither the temperature nor the mechanical strain of a normal wash, and non-washable constructions are deliberately made in such a way that water would damage the structure. Here only professional down cleaning at a specialised firm will achieve the goal. Such cleaning should take place about every five to seven years – not more often, as every cleaning places minimal strain on the natural material.
The bluish sheen of the cotton ticking
Do not be surprised if your cotton ticking has a slightly bluish tone – this is not a fault but intentional. Eiderdown has a naturally slightly brownish colour. The bluish undertone of the ticking counteracts this and ensures that the duvet appears evenly light and pure from the outside. A quality detail that only the truly experienced manufacturers take into account.
The right bed linen for eiderdown duvets
To experience the full lightness of eiderdown, we recommend particularly fine satin as a bed linen cover. Satin clings lightly to the duvet and supports the characteristic floating feel of eiderdown. Coarse bed linen made of flannel or percale takes away part of the duvet's lightness – which technically is not a problem, but somewhat dampens the special feel of eiderdown. You will of course also find matching Satin Bed Linen in our range.
Daily and weekly care
The most important care is a brief daily shaking out after getting up, so that the down unfolds its full volume again. Once a week the duvet should be aired in the fresh air for about an hour – with eiderdown, in the sun as well, that does the down no harm. Avoid leaving the duvet scrunched up overnight. A high-quality duvet cover – ideally of satin, see above – protects the down from skin oils, moisture and abrasion.
Schlossberg eiderdown duvet
The traditional Swiss brand Schlossberg has stood for the highest standards of sleeping culture for generations. Schlossberg eiderdown duvets are made in Switzerland and impress through the combination of carefully selected Icelandic eiderdown and especially fine cotton-batiste covers. Production follows strict Swiss quality standards – each duvet is a handmade one-off. For customers looking for an eiderdown duvet with a brand name and corresponding prestige, Schlossberg is one of the first ports of call.
Dauny eiderdown duvet
The Swiss manufacturer Dauny produces eiderdown duvets of the highest luxury quality. Dauny duvets are distinguished by particularly light handling combined with excellent warmth performance. The chequered quilting ensures that the eiderdown stays evenly distributed and does not gather in one corner of the duvet. The production site on Lake Constance stands for Swiss precision and decades of duvet expertise.
Dorbena eiderdown duvet
Dorbena – the Swiss manufacturer that also produces for brands such as Christian Fischbacher – offers eiderdown duvets with a particular focus on the cover. The cotton batistes used are among the finest on the market, which gives the duvet a particularly snug, almost silky feel. Dorbena duvets are especially suited to customers who place the highest value on the tactile experience.
Billerbeck eiderdown duvet
Billerbeck is the traditional German brand among our eiderdown manufacturers. The Billerbeck eiderdown duvets are filled with new, pure Icelandic hand-selected eiderdown of Class I – this is the very highest quality grade. The cover consists of superfine batiste, 100 percent cotton, and is created in the ateliers of Billerbeck through craftsmanship. All fillings comply with the European standard EN 12934.
One special feature: the Billerbeck eiderdown duvet is an individual bespoke item made to order for each customer. Due to this individual manufacture, the duvet is excluded from return in the event of "not liking it". Please therefore inform yourself thoroughly about size, warmth grade and care before ordering – we are happy to advise you personally. Note on care: Billerbeck eiderdown duvets are not washable and may only be cleaned professionally.
Traumina eiderdown duvet
Traumina produces eiderdown duvets with the aim of making the highest down quality accessible at a fair price. The Icelandic eiderdown used is carefully selected and processed into high-quality cotton-batiste covers. Traumina duvets are the right choice for customers who wish to enter the world of eiderdown without compromising on material authenticity.
Eiderdown duvet sizes: the right size for every bed
Eiderdown duvets are available in all common standard sizes. Given sufficient lead time, we also offer bespoke items so that you get the perfect size for your bed – even for unusual dimensions such as oversizes or special sizes. Please do get in touch with us about this.
Single duvets from 135x200 to 155x220
The classic German standard size of 135x200 cm is the most popular single size. For people from a body height of about 1.75 metres we recommend the comfort size 155x220 cm, which offers more freedom of movement and sufficient length.
Double duvets from 200x200 to 240x220
For double beds the sizes 200x200 cm, 200x220 cm and 240x220 cm are available. The largest models are especially suitable for beds 1.80 metres or 2.00 metres wide and offer enough duvet for everyone even with two sleepers.
Warmth grades for eiderdown duvets
The warmth grade of an eiderdown duvet is based not on the size but on the fill quantity. With eiderdown duvets, five different warmth grades are distinguished, so that you can match the duvet precisely to your personal need for warmth and the temperature in your bedroom.
Warmth grade 1: summer down duvet
For warm nights, heated bedrooms or people who generally warm up quickly. Ideal for the summer months or as a second duvet to combine.
Warmth grade 2: summer half of the year
For people who warm up quickly, already suitable as an all-year duvet. A frequent choice for customers who wish to use the eiderdown duvet all year round.
Warmth grade 3: winter half of the year / standard all-year duvet
For people with a medium need for warmth – the classic standard warmth for all-year duvets. For heated bedrooms it is warming enough over the winter too and is the most frequent choice among the warmth grades.
Warmth grade 4: winter down duvet
The classic winter down duvet for people who feel the cold quickly, or for cooler bedrooms. Keeps you warm and cosy even at room temperatures below 18 degrees.
Warmth grade 5: polar duvet / extreme winter duvet
The warmest level for unheated bedrooms, holiday homes in the mountains or people with a particularly high need for warmth. Rarely ordered, but unbeatable for the right purpose.
Eiderdown vs. goose down: what is the difference?
A legitimate question, because eiderdown duvets cost many times more than classic down duvets. The decisive difference lies in the down structure: goose down and duck down are plucked or harvested and have a different, coarser fibre structure. Eiderdown is collected from abandoned nests and is therefore finer, more elastic and more self-regulating in its structure.
In practice this means: a high-quality goose-down duvet is absolutely sufficient for 95 percent of users and lasts 10 to 15 years. An eiderdown duvet is an investment for life – with significantly better thermoregulating properties, lower weight and lifespans of 30 years and more. The decision is less a question of quality than a question of willingness to invest and of the demand for luxury.
Matching pillow to go with the eiderdown duvet
An eiderdown duvet only unfolds its full effect with the matching pillow. Anyone who chooses an eiderdown duvet will generally also want the matching Eiderdown Pillow – the same material category, the same premium segment, the same comfort. You will find further Duvets in various fillings in our duvet range.
Buying an eiderdown duvet online at Interior Couture
Experience incomparable sleeping comfort with our eiderdown duvets from Schlossberg, Dauny, Dorbena, Billerbeck and Traumina. We advise you personally on the right size, the right warmth grade and the choice of brand – especially important with the bespoke items, which are excluded from the right of return in the event of "not liking it".
We deliver the eiderdown duvets free of shipping charges from an order value of 50,00 EUR within Germany. International shipping is free from an order value of 200,00 EUR. Of course, for deliveries to countries outside the EU and to Switzerland you will receive an invoice exempt from VAT.
Our team is happy to assist you by phone on +49 (0) 221 - 630 606 12 or by email. On request we will also advise you personally in our shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about eiderdown duvets
Why is an eiderdown duvet so expensive?
Eiderdown is not obtained industrially but collected in laborious handwork from the abandoned nests of the eider duck. Around 50 to 70 nests are needed for one kilogram of eiderdown – 1,000 individual eiderdowns weigh only one gram. This elaborate, resource-saving method of collection explains the price – you are paying for a natural material that cannot be scaled up industrially and has a lifespan of 30 years and more.
How do I recognise genuine eiderdown?
Genuine eiderdown has unique properties: it is extremely light, has no quill and expands to ten times its compressed volume when the hand is opened. Reputable eiderdown duvets are supplied with certificates of origin – mostly from Iceland or Scandinavia – and comply with the European standard EN 12934. With premium manufacturers such as Schlossberg, Dauny, Dorbena, Billerbeck or Traumina you can rely on the verification of origin.
Eiderdown or goose down – what is the difference?
Goose down and duck down are plucked and have a coarser fibre structure. Eiderdown is collected from abandoned nests and is finer, more elastic and more thermoregulating. In practice: a high-quality goose-down duvet lasts 10 to 15 years, an eiderdown duvet 30 years and longer. The decision is less a question of quality than a question of willingness to invest.
Can I wash an eiderdown duvet in the washing machine?
That depends on the model and manufacturer. Some eiderdown duvets with cotton ticking or batiste ticking are washable at 40 degrees – with subsequent complete drying-through in full sunshine. Other models, such as the eiderdown duvets from Billerbeck, are deliberately constructed as not washable and belong exclusively to professional down cleaning. Always check the care label and the manufacturer's information before washing your eiderdown duvet.
Which bed linen goes best with an eiderdown duvet?
Mako satin is particularly well suited. The soft, snug satin weave supports the characteristic floating feel of eiderdown and takes nothing away from its lightness. Coarser weaves such as flannel or percale are technically possible too, but somewhat dampen the special feel of eiderdown.
How long does an eiderdown duvet last?
With the right care, a high-quality eiderdown duvet will accompany you for 30 years and longer. What is decisive is consistently dry storage, regular shaking out and airing, professional cleaning every five to seven years, and protection against moisture in the core of the duvet.
Why does my cotton ticking have a bluish sheen?
This is not a fault but intentional. Eiderdown has a naturally slightly brownish colour. The bluish undertone of the ticking counteracts this brownish colour and ensures that the duvet appears evenly light and pure from the outside. A quality detail that only experienced manufacturers take into account.
Can I return an eiderdown duvet if I do not like it?
For standard sizes and stock items the usual 14-day right of withdrawal applies. Individual bespoke items – for example the Billerbeck eiderdown duvets, which are made individually for each customer – are, however, excluded from the right of return in the event of "not liking it". That is why we are happy to advise you personally before such an order, so that your decision really fits.
