The answer is: Yes, there is nothing wrong with it, because if it is in the internal mechanisms, it is neither seen nor known about. If it is in the external parts, such as the hand, then it is deemed subordinate and causes no harm.

However, one question remains: may a person buy a watch containing pieces of gold?

The answer is that this requires further detail. If a person of his standing wearing such a watch would be considered extravagance, then it falls under the prohibition of extravagance. Allah the Exalted says:

“Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” [al-A‘raf: 31]

If it would be said, “This is not the kind of thing someone like you should wear,” then it is extravagance. But if it is not considered extravagant, then the basic ruling is permissibility.

Second: If a man puts a gold watch in his pocket without wearing it, there is nothing wrong with that, because this is not regarded as wearing it.

Third: A diamond watch is permissible in itself, though it may become prohibited on account of extravagance.

Fourth: As for the braid found on bisht cloaks, they say that it is ornamented with gold. Some bishts have threads that are two finger-widths wide, some three, and some four, of gold.

According to the madhhab, if it is gold, then it is prohibited and may not be worn.

However, two considerations arise in this matter:

First: We do not concede that this is gold. Our shaykh, Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz—may Allah preserve him—related to us from his teacher, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim