NEW YORK, NY.- Freeman's | Hindman announces that Dianne Batista has joined the merged firm as Senior Vice President, Jewelry & Watches, expanding the team of experts in the firm's New York office. Batista will lead the development of Freeman's | Hindman's jewelry and watch presence in New York and the greater Northeast region.

Batista will work closely with SVP, Head of Department, Jewelry, April Matteini, and the Chicago, Philadelphia, Palm Beach, Denver, Detroit, and San Diego Jewelry and Watches team to build the firm’s Important Jewelry auctions.

Batista brings 30 years of deep and wide-ranging jewelry experience to this role. Before joining Freeman’s | Hindman, she was the Director of Jewelry & Watches and Senior Specialist at Rago/Wright Auction House. Prior to joining Rago/Wright, she consulted independently as Archive Manager at David Webb amongst other roles.

With her vast experience in the industry, she has held positions as both a Senior Jewelry Specialist and consultant at Christie’s. In the retail jewelry sector, she was the US Head of Dior Fine Jewelry and Cinta Jewelry Director at John Hardy. She has lectured extensively and has appeared as an original jewelry expert on PBS's Antiques Roadshow.

Batista has worked with significant estates and brought many historic fine jewelry pieces to market. Most recently she was responsible for presenting many important pieces of artist jewelry, including pieces by Calder, Lalanne, Burle Marx, Loloma, Margaret De Patta, and Jean Després, to the auction market.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Randolph Macon Woman’s College and is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America’s diamonds, diamond grading, and gem identification.

"It is an exciting time to join Freeman's | Hindman! With the recent merger of two formidable auction houses and our new location on the Upper East Side, I am thrilled to be back in New York City to lead our growth in Jewelry and Watches. Working closely with our well-established Trusts, Estates, and Private Clients team and other specialists throughout the country, I look forward to sharing my expertise and passion for jewelry and watches to bring exciting pieces to auction," commented Dianne Batista.