Quality of Sgian Dubhs

[MJB]

I've been looking around for a new sgian dubh for my wedding. As I'm looking, i realize that I've never been overly fond of the one that I have; the typical $70-$80 black with fitting and a 'stone' top (which is actually like glass or something).

I have come across some very nice ones, but they're going for 300-600 GBP which is insane. All the ones even in the $100 range, just have something about them; cheap, tacky, imitation... something like that. The fittings are typically chrome plated, which is something I prefer on my car over 'sartorial accessories' (if that's even a proper phrase). The 'stone' is made of glass or hard plastic, the sheath is some kind of plastic textured to look like leather, and I'm assuming the handles are typically not real wood.

Am I in the minority here? these things are all over the place, its driving me nuts to find one at a decent price that isn't made of 3 or 4 different kinds of faux something or other. Why do they even bother? if you're going to use plastic and resin, then make it look like its made with plastic and resin, don't make it have a fake wood or fake leather look to it.

I've seriously considered getting a kit and having a go at making one myself. Now I've recently come across some in the $150 CAD range which actually has a leather wrapping on the sheath, they don't describe the materials of handle or fittings, but I assume they're pewter with some type of plating, and I doubt the handle is wood. I may end up getting one of those but I feel like I'm not really getting my moneys worth. Even for something like $400 I can get some sterling silver fitting and leather wrapped sheath, but I still don't think the handle will even be wood.

Maybe my tastes are just too expensive for my own good. Are some of the ones I've mentioned actually better quality than I think? What do all of you typically have for 'dress' occasions?