Pinchbeck
/ˈpɪntʃ.bek/noun
An alloy of copper and zinc that looks like gold; by extension, something that is a cheap imitation of something valuable.
Did you know?Pinchbeck was named after Christopher Pinchbeck, an 18th-century London clockmaker who popularized the secret alloy, and the name quickly became a symbol for convincing imitation.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
English
Pinchbeck
“A gold-like alloy invented and sold in London”
18th Century
English
Pinchbeck
“A deceptive imitation of gold or something merely showy”
Modern English
English
pinchbeck
“Something that is cheap, insincere, or fake-looking”
Modern English
English
pinchbeck jewelry
“Imitation jewelry made from a gold-colored alloy”