What current obsession magazine does

Current Obsession Magazine is a cross-disciplinary independent magazine and platform focused on contemporary jewellery, adornment, and visual culture, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company operates under the parent Jewellery in Culture Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Its core offering centers on editorial publishing - including a periodic print magazine (numbered issues such as '10. Underworld'), supplementary 'Paper' publications distributed at events, books, and an extensive library of digital content comprising series, articles, interviews, and advertorials. A separate Undisciplined Podcast extends the editorial footprint into audio.

Commercial operations span five revenue streams: print and digital publication sales (magazines €15-€60), tiered digital subscriptions ('I LOVE' at €6.50/month or €90/year; 'I'M OBSESSED' at €12.50/month or €180/year), a commission-based online marketplace connecting independent jewellery artists with global collectors (with products priced €8-€3,700 across jewellery, objects, and glass categories), curated events including the biennial OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival and Munich Jewellery Week partnership, and advertising/media partnerships with cultural institutions. The GEMZ talent development programme functions as a talent pipeline that sources emerging artists into both exhibitions and the marketplace. The technology stack is described as a standard publishing and e-commerce platform without proprietary AI or technical systems; DHL Express is integrated for international shipping.

The platform serves two primary customer segments: contemporary jewellery collectors and enthusiasts (predominantly women aged 25-44, per Instagram audience data of 69% women / 31% men), and independent jewellery artists and designers seeking sales channels and exhibition opportunities. Cultural institutions and museums form a secondary partnership segment. Distribution reaches 30,000 monthly website visitors, 200,000+ Instagram followers, 22,000 Facebook followers, and 3,500 newsletter subscribers globally. The company is privately held with no disclosed venture funding, no disclosed revenue, and a single named executive (Frank Verkade, Head of Creative Strategy), implying a small operating team.

Name

current obsession magazine

Legal name

Jewellery in Culture Foundation

Website

https://current-obsession.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Current Obsession Magazine is an Amsterdam-based independent magazine and platform covering contemporary jewellery and visual culture, founded in 2013 under the Jewellery in Culture Foundation. It publishes print and digital content, operates an artist-to-collector marketplace, and curates events for collectors, independent artists, and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Jewellery Media and Marketplace

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Periodical Publishers (51312), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA)

Keywords

• Contemporary jewellery magazine
• Art jewellery marketplace
• Jewellery publishing platform
• Artist talent development
• Jewellery exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Magazine and Publication Sales: Sale of print magazines, papers, and books covering contemporary jewellery and adornment topics. Issues range from €15 for individual magazines to €60 for special issues.
2. Digital Subscriptions: Monthly and yearly digital subscriptions providing access to website content. Two tiers: 'I LOVE' (€6.50/month or €90/year) and 'I'M OBSESSED' (€12.50/month or €180/year).
3. Marketplace Commission: CO operates as a marketplace connecting independent artists with collectors. Current Obsession facilitates transactions, with artists shipping directly to customers. Commission-based revenue from third-party jewellery, objects, and artwork sales ranging from €8 to €3,700.
4. Event and Exhibition Curation: Organizes and curates events including OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival and participation in Munich Jewellery Week. Revenue from festival entries, event partnerships, and sponsored programming.
5. Advertising and Partnerships: Yearly All-In media partnerships offering digital and print advertising, advertorials, and promotional campaigns for cultural institutions and brands aligned with CO's focus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Current Obsession is a cross-disciplinary independent magazine and online platform discussing contemporary adornment in today's visual culture. It publishes print magazines, papers, and books; runs a digital content platform with articles, interviews, and advertorials; operates an online marketplace connecting independent jewellery artists with collectors; and curates events and exhibitions including the OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival, Munich Jewellery Week programming, and the GEMZ talent development programme.

Product overview

Current Obsession is a cross-disciplinary independent magazine and platform discussing contemporary adornment in today's visual culture. The offering consists of a print magazine (published as numbered issues like '10. Underworld Issue'), supplementary Papers for events (Munich Jewellery Week, OBSESSED! Festival), and Books. The digital platform publishes Series, Articles, Interviews, and Advertorials. The GEMZ Talent Development Programme supports emerging artists and feeds into the Jewellery Store marketplace. The store offers Jewellery, Objects, and Glass from independent artists alongside Giftcards and tiered Subscriptions (I Love at €6.50/€90 annually; I'm Obsessed at €12.50/€180 annually). Community events include the annual OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival and Munich Jewellery Week partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEMZ: Talent Development programme supporting emerging artists in the jewellery field
• OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival
• Munich Jewellery Week

Products and services

• Magazine Print magazine publication discussing contemporary adornment and jewellery in the context of today's visual culture, published periodically as numbered issues.
• Paper Supplementary print publications released for specific events such as Munich Jewellery Week, featuring editorial content, interviews, and artist features.
• Book Published books and expanded editorial works covering contemporary jewellery and adornment topics.
• Jewellery Online Marketplace Online marketplace connecting independent jewellery artists with collectors, featuring pieces from featured artists. Products range from €8 (patches) up to €3,700 (art objects), with typical jewellery from €100 to €1,100.
• Objects Store Decorative objects and sculptural pieces by independent artists, including items like egg cups and wall pieces.
• Glass Store Glass artworks and jewellery pieces created by independent artists and sold via the online marketplace.
• I Love Subscription Entry-level monthly or yearly digital subscription providing access to website content. Monthly at €6.50/30 days, or yearly at €90/year.
• I'm Obsessed Subscription Premium monthly or yearly digital subscription offering enhanced access and VIP benefits. Monthly at €12.50/30 days, or yearly at €180/year.
• Giftcards Digital giftcards available in denominations of €25, €50, €100, and €250 for purchasing publications and jewellery.
• GEMZ Talent Development Programme Talent development initiative supporting emerging jewellery artists through mentorship, workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities. Many marketplace artists originate from this programme.
• OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival Annual jewellery festival curated by Current Obsession, featuring exhibitions, discussions, and experiences celebrating contemporary adornment.
• Undisciplined Podcast Podcast covering topics related to contemporary jewellery, adornment, and creative practice.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jewellery in Culture FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization powering Current Obsession. Provides organizational framework and support for the platform's publishing, curation, and community-building activities in contemporary jewellery and adornment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Klimt02: Online magazine and platform dedicated to contemporary art jewellery, with artist directories, editorial content, and exhibition listings. Direct competitor to Current Obsession in the niche contemporary jewellery publishing space, serving the same collector and artist audiences globally.
• Art Jewelry Forum (AJF): Online publication and community covering contemporary jewellery through articles, interviews, and critical discourse. Highly comparable to Current Obsession's editorial mission, with overlapping audience of collectors, gallerists, and artists in the contemporary jewellery field.
• The Jewellery Editor: Digital publication covering fine and designer jewellery through editorial reviews and shopping content. Comparable to Current Obsession in combining editorial publishing with a commercial jewellery marketplace, though with a broader (luxury + contemporary) positioning.
• Pinpoint Magazine: Independent contemporary jewellery publication and platform with editorial content and artist features. Direct competitor in the niche of contemporary jewellery publishing, with similar audience of artists, collectors, and curators.

Broad incumbents

• Wallpaper*: Established design and culture magazine covering jewellery, fashion, and visual culture at a mainstream luxury level. Comparable publishing model (print + digital + commerce + events) but with significantly broader scope and scale than Current Obsession's contemporary jewellery focus.
• 1stDibs: Online luxury marketplace featuring jewellery, furniture, and art from galleries and dealers worldwide. Comparable to Current Obsession's marketplace function but at much larger scale and broader luxury scope; competes for the same high-end jewellery collector spend.
• Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and independent designer goods, including a significant contemporary jewellery category. Competes with Current Obsession's marketplace for independent artist sales, though at vastly greater scale and a less curated positioning.

Emerging players

• Apartamento Magazine: Independent quarterly magazine and brand covering interiors, design, and creative culture with a curated commerce component. Comparable to Current Obsession's community-led publishing-plus-shop model and audience of design-literate independent-brand enthusiasts.
• Sleek Magazine: Independent art and contemporary culture magazine with print editions, online editorial, and event programming. Comparable to Current Obsession's independent publishing model and community-event driven GTM within the broader visual culture space.
• Document Journal: Independent seasonal publication covering art, fashion, and culture. Comparable to Current Obsession as a niche, editorial-led, community-driven publication serving a design- and culture-literate audience with curated commerce extensions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/currentobsessionmag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/current-obsession
• Instagraminstagram.com/currentobsessionmag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about current obsession magazine