Clock/watch - can they be distinguished?

Question

The word 'reloj' is used for both a normal clock, and a wrist watch. I want to talk about both separately, how can I make a distinction between them?

Answer 1

Call the wristwatch a reloj de pulsera...

• is this the only possibilty? because it doesn't flow well to write 'los relojes y los relojes de pulsera' in one sentence - zedoee Jan 13, 2012
• reloj de pared (wall clock), reloj de salón (living room clock), reloj de bolsillo (pocket watch) are all used. torre de reloj (clock tower) so reloj de torre is probably used. - qfreed Jan 13, 2012

Answer 2

Hello and welcome to the SpanishDict forum

Jeremias is correct The best way to distinguish between the two is to refer to the wrist watch as reloj de pulsera. but a clock as reloj I know of no other way. Perhaps a native speaker knows a better way. I have never heard of another word for either that avoids the use of the word reloj.

By the way is it necessary to mention both in one sentence?

• i would like to, i am writing an essay about a book in which in the presence of a particular character, clocks and wacthes begin to go backwards. this happens on separate occasions so i would have liked to mention both - zedoee Jan 13, 2012
• I undestand your desire to refer to them in this way. I would then mention los relojes first then los relojes de pulsera afterwards :) It always seems to sound better to me placing the longer word, phrase at the end.of the sentence. It is of course ... - FELIZ77 Jan 13, 2012
• up to you how you write it. This is only a suggestion. :) - FELIZ77 Jan 13, 2012