Short answer
Gold-coloured items with no gold in them, like gold-tone steel or brass buttons and watch cases, are allowed. Gold plating is real gold: where the layer is substantial it is haram for men like solid gold, and even a thin wash on jewellery is to be avoided. Chains and bracelets are not allowed for men anyway, whatever the metal.
Gold worn as adornment is haram for men, and plating with a substantial layer of gold takes the same ruling. The classical texts are lenient only with a thin gilding (tamwih) that cannot be separated, discussed for vessels and objects; for jewellery worn on the body Hanafi muftis tell men to avoid even that. Gold colour with no gold is permitted.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said that gold and silk are forbidden to the men of his community. When he saw a man wearing a gold ring, he took it off him and said that one of them takes a burning coal and puts it on his hand. The ruling is about gold as a metal, whatever its colour or carat; see is gold haram for men.
Gold colour, no gold. Brass, bronze or stainless steel with a gold-tone finish, and fabric in a gold colour, contain no gold, so the prohibition does not apply. A gold-coloured shirt, belt buckle, watch case or phone is fine. The jewellery rules still apply, though: a man may not wear a brass or steel chain or bracelet as adornment; see can men wear jewellery.
Gold-plated. Here real gold is bonded onto another metal. If the layer is substantial, so that it could be separated or would leave gold behind when melted, it is gold and haram for a man. The Hanafi texts were lenient only with a very thin gilding that cannot be separated, and they discussed it for vessels and objects. For rings and jewellery worn on the body, Hanafi muftis tell men to stay away from plating of any thickness: it looks exactly like gold, and the metal underneath is usually brass or steel, which a man may not wear as a ring anyway. A plain silver ring is the clear choice.
Watches and accessories. A watch with a thin gold-tone layer, gold-plated cufflinks or a gilded pen are treated more leniently by many muftis, but leaving them is safer. Solid gold watches are haram for men; see can men wear a watch.
Fake gold. So-called fake or imitation gold is usually brass or steel with a gold finish. It is not gold, but since men may not wear chains, it only matters for permitted items like watches and buttons.
The evidence
Sunan Abi Dawud 4057
Graded sahih... إن هذين حرام على ذكور أمتي ...
"These two are forbidden to the men of my community."
Gold and silk are forbidden to men.
Sahih Muslim 2090
Sahih... يعمد أحدكم إلى جمرة من نار فيجعلها في يده ...
"One of you takes a burning coal from the Fire and puts it on his hand."
Said about a man wearing a gold ring, showing how serious it is.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on clothing. Gold is forbidden to men; the discussion of gilded vessels and objects.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha. On gilding (tamwih) that cannot be separated from the metal beneath it.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.