1. Plural of pinchbeck; cheap imitation jewelry or ornaments made from a brass alloy designed to resemble gold.
Usage: Often used attributively (e.g., 'pinchbeck jewelry'); Named after Christopher Pinchbeck, an 18th-century watchmaker
2. Something that is a cheap or fraudulent imitation; a counterfeit or sham.
Usage: Figurative use; can refer to anything false or worthless

Examples

• The antique dealer warned customers that many of the old brooches were pinchbecks, not solid gold.
• She wore pinchbecks to the party because she didn't want to risk losing her real jewelry.
• His promises turned out to be pinchbecks—all glitter and no substance.
• The museum displayed pinchbecks alongside authentic pieces to show how consumers were once deceived.
• Those pinchbeck earrings might fool someone at first glance, but they'll tarnish quickly.
• He dismissed the politician's reforms as mere pinchbecks designed to distract from real problems.