Couples swap engagement rings for finger piercings in bizarre new trend

The unusual piercing is gaining traction on social media

When millennials started proposing to each other with avocados, you might’ve thought you’d seen it all.

Not quite, as the latest trend to take the subversive wedding scene by storm is even more farfetched.

Introducing engagement piercings: the unusual - and rather painful - way the avant-garde lovebirds of today are marking their commitment to one another.

It's a type of dermal piercing, which is typically made up of two pieces of jewellery consisting of a flat piece of metal that sits beneath the skin’s surface and a visible stud that can be changed just like any other body piercing.

“Our engagement dermals we got Friday,” wrote one Instagram user alongside a picture of his and his fiancée’s 'rings'.

“It was a little painful and bloody but definitely worth it and an awesome idea by my fiancée!

“We chose red and green for Harley and Joker but I might switch to purple after it heals,” he wrote.

Just one search of #fingerpiercing on Instagram reveals the extent of the growing trend - which has already racked up 3,430 posts.

While some prefer a single diamond stud, resembling a more traditional engagement ring aesthetic, others are opting for trendier dual stud piercings.

There are obvious economical and logistical advantages for choosing an innovative piercing over a real diamond ring.

For example, the average spend on engagement rings for British couples is £1,080 - and you could very well lose it, a less likely fate with an engagement piercing.

However, dermatologists have warned of the health risks surrounding dermal piercings, which can be carried out on a number of different body parts such as the neck or back.

They are usually carried out without local anaesthetic, meaning they are very painful, and complications can occur even after the piercing has been conducted if the metal plate isn’t inserted deep enough.

Plus, they can be very tricky to remove.

Pierce at your own peril.