Would you say it was alright for a ball?
I wore mine for a works black tie do - I just looked the same as everyone else did. Trust me, if you are wearing a black jacket, white shirt and black tie nobody will bat an eyelid and nobody will even notice the difference between yours and the guy next to you, regardless of cost.
Black tie is just a uniform, there's not much point spending hundreds for the average joe because you won't really stand out. You just need to look smart and standardised. No "zany" tie!
Anyway, there is FAR more interest in what the girls are wearing!