Forget N95 masks, one man is wearing a real golden face mask to deflect coronavirus.

Shankar Kurhade from Pune, India paid $4,000 to produce a customized face mask made of pure gold. Weighing in at 2 ounces (60 grams), the precious metal mask took eight days to craft.

The first question that may come to many minds is how Kurhade manages to breathe while wearing the covering over his mouth.

“It is a thin mask and has tiny pores that is helping me to breathe,” Kurhade said.

Still, even his not confident the mask alone can save him.

“I am not sure if it will be effective to protect me from a coronavirus infection,” he admitted, adding that he thinks “It is not the gold or cloth mask, but social distancing and hand washing that will protect human beings from coronavirus.”

So what’s with the mask then? Is it just a fashion statement?

Well, wearing face masks is currently mandatory in public places in India. So the 49-year-old businessman has no choice. However, he doesn’t seem to mind the attention, although he insists it not a publicity stunt.

“People are asking me for selfies,” he said. “They are awestruck when they see me wearing the gold mask in markets.”

It’s not just the mask either. Kurhade is a gold bug who enjoys donning gold jewelries like bracelets, necklaces and rings on each finger of his right hand.

He says he was inspired by a media report about another man wearing a mask made from silver, which he considered a challenge.