People are getting engagement ring piercings, and people don't know what to think

On average, people spend around $5,871 on their engagement ring, according to a survey by The Knot. And with some jewellers starting their engagement ring range with prices as high as $40,000, it's not surprising that people are seeking alternatives to the traditional signifier of your betrothal.

Some people opt for more unconventional rings by buying ones with intricate designs and novel gemstones. Other couples choose to cherish the gesture through the promise of words, and would rather spend the thousands of dollars that would have gone towards a ring on something like a partial down payment on a house, a round-the-world trip or by sensibly starting a new savings fund.

Still, there's just something about showing your soon-to-be marital status on your finger for all to see. If you don't want to get a ring, then maybe a tattoo is more to your liking. Or, the latest new trend has seen people adorning gemstones on their finger... without the band. How, you may ask? Well, with a finger piercing.

The engagement ring piercing trend gives the illusion of a diamond being miraculously attached to your finger – quite a unique look considering that we're used to seeing a band attached to the rock too. It's a more permanent fixture than a ring you can take on and off, and probably means you won't risk losing it either.

The finger piercing technique used is a dermal piercing – also known as a surface anchor piercing. This kind of piercing features jewellery that is inserted into the skin and held in place by being "anchored" just beneath the skin, rather than by having an exit point that is fastened with a stopper (like with earring studs).

Some people love it, sharing their fondness for the trend and their own pictures to social media, while others don't quite know how to feel...

Many people expressed their discomfort at the idea, imagining that the procedure would be pretty painful. But professionals say that as long as you get a skilled and experienced practitioner to do it, it shouldn't be any more harmful than a regular piercing.

On the other hand, there are a number of things to be wary of if the procedure goes wrong. Areas with less skin (like the finger) are more susceptible to rejecting implanted piercings, which means it would be pushed it towards the surface and out of the skin. If it's adjusted too tight, you might feel painful pressure on the area. And if it's too deep, you might notice scar tissue forming.

It's especially risky given how active we are with our hands - with everyday activities like dressing, rummaging through bags or grabbing something out of the fridge being potential occasions where you could pull at or even rip out the piercing. In any case, you will be left with a scar if you choose to take it out at some point, due to the delicate nature of the skin in that area.

So, would you be game for this kind of lasting engagement ring alternative?