When choosing a gift for a colleague, my best advise to you is not to make it a personal gift.
A nice desk clock or a pen and pencil set is quite appropriate. If you get together with others at work and all contribute, you can always purchase a nice attache case, in leather, and have the colleagues initials put on it.
An appointment book or organizer always makes a welcome gift for someone at work.
If you are allowed pictures on your desk at work, a nice picture frame makes a welcomed addition to a desk for the co-worker to display his family(or pet or friends) for all to see.
How about a personalized coffee(tea) mug? Or even a’cup warmer’ to keep the coffee or tea hot at the desk.
If you know your fellow employee goes out to lunch every day. Find out where, a gift certificate to the restaurant he or she frequents would be nice too.
Keep a gift to a colleague simple. Make sure it is something you’d like to receive, especially in front of others. Don’t give anything that will in any way embarrass your co-worker! Don’t show up with a nicely wrapped box of underwear, save that for a family gift. As I said, a personal gift is not a gift for a colleague.
I guess that about wraps this opinion up. Just keep the office gift simple and non personal!