Is It Permissible for Men to Wear Gold-Plated Watches or Glasses?

Dr. Nazir Ayad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti, explained that it is permissible for men to wear a watch or eyeglasses with a gold-colored finish if the appearance is merely a color and contains no actual gold, or if the gold coating is so minimal that no usable gold can be extracted from it.

However, if the item contains a significant layer of real gold that can be recovered or extracted, wearing it is not permissible for men.

When Is Gold Plating Permissible?

According to the Grand Mufti, wearing such items is allowed when:

• The gold appearance is only a color or decorative finish without real gold.
• The coating contains only a negligible amount of gold that cannot be recovered through melting or processing.

In these cases, the item does not fall under the Islamic prohibition of wearing gold for men.

When Is It Prohibited?

The ruling changes if the watch or glasses are coated with a substantial layer of real gold or contain enough gold that it can be extracted.

In such cases, the item is considered to contain actual gold, making it impermissible for men to wear according to Islamic teachings.

Evidence for the Prohibition of Gold for Men

Dr. Nazir Ayad cited authentic hadiths in which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ declared that gold and silk are prohibited for the men of his nation and permissible for its women.

These narrations form the primary basis for the Islamic ruling.

Scholarly Consensus

The Grand Mufti also noted that Islamic scholars unanimously agree that wearing gold is permissible for women but prohibited for men.

He referred to the consensus reported by Imam Al-Nawawi regarding this well-established ruling.

Gold Color vs. Real Gold

Dr. Nazir Ayad emphasized that the ruling depends on whether real gold is present—not merely on the item's golden color.

A gold-colored finish without actual recoverable gold is permissible, whereas an item containing a substantial amount of real gold is prohibited for men.

Can a man wear a gold-plated watch?

Yes, if the gold appearance is only decorative or contains an insignificant amount of gold that cannot be extracted.

Can men wear gold-plated eyeglasses?

Yes, under the same conditions outlined by the Grand Mufti.

When does wearing gold become prohibited for men?

When the item contains a significant amount of real gold that can be recovered or extracted.

Is gold permissible for women?

Yes. Islamic scholars unanimously agree that women may wear gold.

What is the evidence for prohibiting gold for men?

The ruling is based on authentic hadiths stating that gold and silk are forbidden for men and lawful for women.