Desk Toys and Gifts for Colleagues: Science for the Office

The desk toy or gift for a colleague that is elegant enough for the office and interesting enough to be picked up in every meeting: Newton’s cradles, magnetic hourglasses, kinetic sculptures.

⭐ Our selection in detail

Our 12 favourites, hand picked and sorted by budget. Click a card to see the full product page.

Under £20 stocking fillers, small thank yous

£20 to £50 the best value for wow

Pyramid Brain Teaser Pyramid Brain Teaser £25.99 Challenge your intellect with the Pyramid Brain Teaser , a captivating challenge designed 💡 An escape-room puzzle in wood: hours of head scratching for curious minds. Magic Spinner Magic Spinner £23.99 Rediscover focus with Magic Spinner, the gyroscopic spinner that turns stress into a mesme 💡 A hypnotic gyroscopic desk toy that colleagues cannot stop spinning. Magnetic Perpetual Calendar Magnetic Perpetual Calendar £41.49 Discover the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics with our Magnetic Perpetu 💡 A stylish wood and magnet desk calendar that never needs replacing. Magnetic Solar System Magnetic Solar System £24.99 The Magnetic Solar System is an unusual, unique and innovative solar-powered decorative ob 💡 Solar-powered planets glide in silent orbit: hypnotic desk decor for space lovers. GIFT - Small Plasma Ball GIFT – Small Plasma Ball £26.99 Discover the enchantment of science with our USB Plasma Ball ! This high-resistance glass 💡 Electric lightning at your fingertips: nobody can resist touching this desk lamp. Rainbow Magnetic Balls Rainbow Magnetic Balls £27.99 A set of colorful magnetic balls, the Rainbow Magnetic Balls have been designed to help yo 💡 Endlessly fiddly desk toy in rainbow colours: stress relief meets creativity. Crystal Storm Glass Barometer Crystal Storm Glass Barometer £29.99 If you’re looking for an elegant, scientific way of predicting the weather, then you 💡 Crystals grow and shift with the weather: a beautiful science ornament for any desk. Storm Glass Weather Predictor Storm Glass Weather Predictor £37.49 Introducing the Storm Glass Weather Predictor , a magnificent decorative object for predic 💡 Crystals grow and shift with the weather: a living science ornament for any desk. Newton's Cradle Desk Toy Newton’s Cradle Desk Toy £24.99 Get your hands on Newton’s Cradle Desk Toy for a magical moment of physics thanks to 💡 A timeless desk classic: colleagues cannot keep their hands off it. Math Puzzles Brain Teaser Math Puzzles Brain Teaser £29.99 Dig your brains out with our Math Puzzles Brain Teaser . Designed for curious minds and fa 💡 A wooden maths challenge that keeps clever minds busy for hours. Gyroscope Toy Gyroscope Toy £23.99 Discover a fascinating Gyroscope Toy and make it one of the centrepieces of your interior 💡 Physics in the palm of your hand: spins, balances and hypnotises every desk visitor.

🎁 The full collection

178 gift ideas sorted by best sellers. Free UK delivery over £45. Need a hand? Read our advice.

Newton Balls Original

Newton Balls Original

From £26,99
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Metal Brain Teaser Puzzles

Metal Brain Teaser Puzzles (15 Pcs)

£26,99
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Magnetic Balls Pyramid

Magnetic Balls Pyramid

From £40,49
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Scientific Oil and Vinegar Dispenser

Scientific Oil and Vinegar Dispenser

£19,99
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Metal Spinning Top

Metal Spinning Top

£29,99
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Glass Radiometer

Glass Radiometer

£42,49
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Square Brain Teaser Puzzle

Square Brain Teaser Puzzle

£16,99
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Astronaut USB Light

Astronaut USB Light

£16,99
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Mini Newton's Cradle

Mini Newton’s Cradle

£16,99
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Hourglass Decorative

Hourglass Decorative

From £27,49
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Perpetual Motion Desk Toy

Perpetual Motion Desk Toy

£37,49
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Helicone Sculpture

Helicone Sculpture

£21,99
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Magnetic Ball Light

Magnetic Ball Light

£42,49
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Metal Infinity Cube

Metal Infinity Cube

£37,49
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5 Minutes Sand Timer Modern

5 Minutes Sand Timer Modern

£17,90
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Magnetic Hourglass

Magnetic Hourglass

£37,49
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Water Hourglass

Water Hourglass

£26,99
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Test Tube Tea Infuser

Test Tube Tea Infuser

£13,99
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Spiral cone Fidget Cone

Spiral Cone Fidget Toy (3pcs)

£23,99
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Cone Coffee Cup

Cone Coffee Cup (4 pcs)

£62,99
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Spiral Watch

Spiral Watch

£23,99
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Liquid Hourglass

Liquid Hourglass

£19,99
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Cloud Storm Glass

Cloud Storm Glass

£42,49
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Stainless Steel Fidget Spinner

Stainless Steel Fidget Spinner

£26,99
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Still looking? Answer four quick questions and our gift finder picks the ideal present for you.

🎯 Try the gift finder All gift ideas

A gift for a colleague walks a fine line: original enough to be noticed, sober enough to stay professional. Science desk objects tick every box. They are elegant, they intrigue, and they start conversations at the coffee machine without ever being out of place.

The ideal office gift is the one that intrigues without invading, decorates without cluttering, and relaxes without distracting. A Newton’s cradle set in motion during a long call, a magnetic hourglass that everyone wants to flip, a kinetic sculpture that turns silently on a shelf.

💡 How to choose

✅Avoid anything too personal: a desk object is always well received, from the intern to the director
✅For an open plan office, choose the silent ones: magnetic hourglass, kinetic sculpture, fidget cube rather than the clicking cradle
✅For a leaving gift or a retirement, pool the team budget and move up to a Galileo thermometer, a levitating globe or a Nixie clock

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for a colleague you do not know well?

A Newton’s cradle or an infinity cube: universal, elegant, zero risk. They suit every desk and every taste, and they stay within the £15 to £40 that an office gift calls for.

What budget for an office gift?

Between £15 and £40 is the sweet spot for an individual gift. Newton’s cradles, gyroscopes and magnetic hourglasses all offer an excellent quality to impact ratio at that price.

What about a leaving gift from the whole team?

Something that will stay on their next desk: a large Newton’s cradle, a levitating globe, a Galileo thermometer. Count on £40 to £100 for a team gift, which also reaches the free delivery threshold.

Are there gifts to avoid at work?

Anything noisy in an open plan office and anything too personal. Science desk objects have exactly the advantage of being neutral, unisex and appreciated by every profile.

Any ideas for the office Secret Santa?

Fidget cubes, glowing spinners, brain teasers and test tube infusers: fun, unisex and under £20. Our Secret Santa gifts under £20 collection is built for the office draw.

In short

The perfect office gift is the object that starts conversations at the coffee machine: discreet, clever, never out of place. Our current favourites: the Newton’s Cradle, the Magnetic Hourglass and the Kinetic Sculpture.

📋 See also