An antique pinchbeck brooch with chased and stippled leaf motifs, collet-set faux pearls, and gilt bead tassel.

Pinchbeck was an alloy of copper and zinc that was invented in the early 18th century by Christopher Pinchbeck, a London-based watchmaker. The exact formula has remained a bit of a mystery since it was heavily guarded by the Pinchbeck family. In addition to being a more affordable alternative to gold, its advantage over other gold substitutes of the time was its durability and resistance to tarnishing or fading. It had a bright yellow color and was lighter than its more "precious" counterpart, making larger pieces of jewelry easier to wear. With the invention of electroplating, pinchbeck fell out of mainstream use during the mid to late-19th century, and pieces made of pinchbeck are now hard to find.