Here we are in January, your Christmas bills might be almost paid off, and it`s time to think warm and cozy. What better way than snuggling up at night under a comfy, puffy eiderdown comforter that comes with a price tag of only $5,000 or more?
Yes, you read that right. The eiderdown comforter is made by Scandia Down from the down of the eider duck. Buying one is a little like getting a mortgage. You go into the store, talk about what you want (exactly how many ounces, the type of construction, etc.), a price is quoted, and if you agree, it is locked in for you while the comforter is made to your specifications.
The down is now running about $1,100 a pound. A king-size comforter takes about 58 ounces of the feathers, so we`re talking about $4,000 for the feathers alone. Assembling the comforter will run another-well, as they say, if you have to ask, you probably shouldn`t be in the market.
”Eiderdown is hand-harvested, and it`s not harvested when there are eggs in the nest, so no warmth is lost for the little eider ducks,” said spokesman Lee Mullally, explaining the steep price. Each nest yields only about a half- ounce of the precious feathers.
Because there are not many eider ducks to begin with, and the availability of their feathers fluctuates considerably, the price of the down fluctuates considerably, which means that Scandia does not quote set prices.
And yes, if your mind is reeling from the price, it is quite possible to buy one right off the shelf and take it home with you. (It will be goose down.)
Prices for king-size goose down comforters range from $295 for an Oasis style (27 ounces) to $2,070 for a Scandia Signature (49 ounces). The comforters also come in other sizes. Scandia Down stores are in Oakbrook Center and Northbrook Court.
