Quick answer: A good farewell gift for a colleague is personal and lasting — ideally something engraved for everyday use: an engraved wallet, a toiletry bag with a name, or a leather gift set if the whole team is chipping in. Engrave a name, the leaving date, or a short message for free (up to about 25 characters). That turns a generic present into a memory of the time spent together. Updated July 4, 2026.
Leaving a job is a moment that carries weight — retirement, a new job, or parental leave. An engraved gift strikes the right tone because it's personal and it lasts. We're a small family workshop in the EU — founded by a husband-and-wife team — and we engrave every piece ourselves. Here are ideas, the right words, and what to consider when choosing an engraving.
Good to know: ✓ Free engraving on every product · ✓ Live preview before ordering · ✓ Free replacement if we make a mistake · ✓ Gift box included · ✓ EU shipping with tracking (1–5 business days)
What do you give a colleague as a farewell gift?
In general, something lasting that gets used every day — and becomes personal through engraving. This table shows proven ideas:
| Gift | Typical engraving | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet (Italian nubuck leather) | Name, initials, date (inside) | Job change, retirement |
| Toiletry bag (leather) | Name or initials | Travelers, commuters |
| Engraved bracelet (stainless steel) | Name, date | A more personal farewell |
| Leather gift set (wallet + belt) | Initials, company name | Team chipping in together |
Also browse gifts for him and gifts for her — every piece can be engraved.
What can you engrave on a farewell gift?
The engraving makes the difference. Short texts up to about 25 characters stay easy to read. Popular choices:
- Name and leaving date — simple and lasting.
- A short message from the team — "Thanks for everything" or the company name with the years spent together.
- An inside joke — a word or date that only the team understands.
On a wallet, the engraving often sits discreetly on the inside, keeping the piece professional. Which wording and motifs are possible — including a company logo as a PNG — is covered in our engraved gift guide.
The right gift for the occasion
Not every farewell is the same — the occasion sets the tone:
- Retirement. A high-quality, lasting piece for the next chapter — an engraved wallet or gift set with the name and the last working day. This is where it's fine to go a bit more premium.
- Job change. Something practical for everyday working life — a wallet or toiletry bag, discreetly engraved inside, accompanies the next step.
- Parental leave. A warmer, more personal touch — an engraved bracelet or a small set that has nothing to do with the office.
- Company gift from the team. A leather gift set with the engraved company name or the shared years — feels unified and appreciative.
Farewell gift by budget
Because engraving is free on every product, only the item itself decides the price:
- From one person (around €35–40): an engraved bracelet or a wallet.
- From the team: a leather gift set with a wallet and belt — one shared gift instead of many small ones.
Material & durability
Our wallets and gift sets are made from Italian nubuck leather (soft, matte, develops a patina over time), and the belts from cowhide leather. On light leather the line engraving shows up darker, on dark leather more subtly — it doesn't replace colored printing, but instead feels understated and refined. The engraving itself needs no care; keep the leather looking good with a dry cloth and occasional colorless leather balm, and avoid moisture and direct sunlight. Every wallet has a built-in RFID shield that protects cards from unauthorized scanning.
A farewell gift from the whole team
When several people chip in, it's worth going bigger — a leather gift set (wallet and belt) with engraved initials feels more substantial than many small individual gifts and stays memorable. The company name or leaving date as an engraving makes it clear: this comes from the colleagues.
Shipping & guarantee
Every piece is engraved after you order. We craft it in 1–3 business days and ship from the EU with tracking; delivery within the EU takes 1–5 business days (about 4–8 days total) — plan some lead time before the last working day. Personalized items are made to order and excluded from returns — but if there's a manufacturing fault or an engraving error on our part, we'll replace the piece for free or issue a full refund. A gift box is always included.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give a colleague as a farewell gift?
In general, something lasting for everyday use with a personal engraving — an engraved wallet, a toiletry bag with a name, or an engraved bracelet with the leaving date. For the whole team: an engraved leather gift set.
What do you write on a farewell gift?
The name and leaving date, a short message like "Thanks for everything," the company name with the shared years, or a team inside joke. Short and personal (up to about 25 characters) works best.
What's a good farewell gift for retirement?
A high-quality engraved piece that accompanies the next chapter of life — a wallet, a toiletry bag, or a bracelet with a name and date. Lasting rather than something that gets used up.
Written by Dmitry and the family behind The Craft House Gift — a small, husband-and-wife-run business making engraved leather and jewelry gifts, crafted in the EU. Questions? support@thecrafthousegift.eu — every message is read personally. Last updated: July 4, 2026.
