Silk weight (momme)
Cillouettes · 3 min read
The weight of silk (momme) is decisive for the price.
There are many different price ranges for silk - and thankfully so. For many years, silk bedding and silk nightwear were primarily materials reserved for the most affluent. Today, however, it is possible to find silk at different price points, so most people can afford it. However, it should be kept in mind that the best quality silk will always be at the higher end of the price range.
In this guide
Silk threads and momme
You get the highest quality and most expensive genuine mulberry silk if you buy one hundred percent cocoon silk. Cocoon silk is one of the finest qualities of silk and has over 1,000 silk threads per centimeter. The number of silk threads is what defines silk's momme "MM" (weight). As a rule of thumb, 1,000 silk threads per centimeter is said to correspond to 19 mm.
Weight? Momme? Are they the same thing?
When discussing the quality of silk, many different technical terms are used. The most common term you will encounter is the word "momme". Momme is a Japanese term pronounced "moe-mie" and abbreviated as "mm". The term momme expresses the weight (in pounds) of a piece of material.
The easiest way to explain what momme means to new silk enthusiasts is to present an analogy. Most people know that the quality of cotton sheets is measured by thread count. The higher the thread count, the better the quality, resulting in a higher price.
In the same way, the quality of silk fabric is measured by momme weight. A high momme equals high quality. An increase in momme results in heavier, stronger and more durable silk. Silk that is 17 momme or lower is considered lightweight and is typically used for delicate, gently used items such as lightweight blouses or summer scarves.
Our vision is not to create a silk product of too low a quality. Lightweight silk is cheaper, but will result in an inferior product. All silk products from Cillouettes are made from silk that is 19 momme or higher. A higher momme means a denser weave, which protects the sheen that silk possesses and results in greater durability.
For silk pillowcases, a momme weight of 16-18 is considered good quality. Silk pillowcases in the range of 19-22 mm are of very high quality. A momme of 12 - or lower - will result in a pillowcase that is not particularly durable due to the silk threads being too thin.
Different names for silk
| 1. Charmeuse | 12 to 22 mm |
| 2. Chiffon | 6-8 mm (can be made in double thickness, i.e. from 12 to 16 mm) |
| 3. Crepe de Chine | 12 to 18 mm |
| 4. Gauze | 3 to 5 mm |
| 5. Georgette | 8-12 mm |
| 6. Habutai | 5-16 mm |
| 7. Organza | 4-6 mm |
| 8. Raw Silk | 35 to 40 mm (heavier silk appears more "woolly") |
And no - satin is not silk. Not even when used in the context of "silky satin" or "satin silk". Satin is a synthetic artificial material, typically a blend consisting primarily of polyester.
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