David Lee’s philosophy goes far beyond selling luxury jewelry—he sees himself not just as a jeweler, but as an entrepreneur and builder of legacy. His approach is rooted in the belief that true ownership—starting with the land itself—is the foundation for long-term excellence. Rather than leasing space like many in the retail world, David owns the properties where his Hing Wa Lee Jewelers stores are located, giving him full creative freedom to design state-of-the-art showrooms that reflect both innovation and heritage.
“When I took the helm, my father said, ‘Now you handle the store. It’s in your hands,’” David recalls. While he led the retail division, his father focused on real estate for the family business—investing in multifamily units and commercial projects across both the U.S. and Hong Kong. “It was a good partnership,” David says. “As I was making money in retail, he would invest it in real estate.” That synergy laid the groundwork for a vertically integrated business model—where retail success funded real estate, and real estate empowered retail expansion.
This evolved into developing their own retail locations—starting with the Hing Wa Lee Plaza in Walnut in 2003, followed by the iconic 15,000-square-foot flagship store in San Gabriel in 2013. Today, Hing Wa Lee Group has three major divisions: retail, real estate, and an investment arm that funds a range of ventures and product categories. His company, Brilliant Realty & Real Estate Management in Arcadia, handles property management, acquisitions, and sales—solidifying control over every aspect of their empire.
David’s San Gabriel store is a showcase in itself, housing over 25 of the world’s top luxury watch and jewelry brands. His Larchmont Village location in Los Angeles pushes the envelope even further, featuring a Formula 1 Ferrari room and a Parisian-inspired rooftop lounge. These aren’t just stores—they are immersive experiences made possible by David’s unwavering belief in ownership and independence.
As he puts it: owning the land gives you the power to build without limits. And in David Lee’s case, that means building nothing less than excellence.
REAL ESTATE
David Lee’s philosophy goes far beyond selling luxury jewelry—he sees himself not just as a jeweler, but as an entrepreneur and builder of legacy. His approach is rooted in the belief that true ownership—starting with the land itself—is the foundation for long-term excellence. Rather than leasing space like many in the retail world, David owns the properties where his Hing Wa Lee Jewelers stores are located, giving him full creative freedom to design state-of-the-art showrooms that reflect both innovation and heritage.
“When I took the helm, my father said, ‘Now you handle the store. It’s in your hands,’” David recalls. While he led the retail division, his father focused on real estate for the family business—investing in multifamily units and commercial projects across both the U.S. and Hong Kong. “It was a good partnership,” David says. “As I was making money in retail, he would invest it in real estate.” That synergy laid the groundwork for a vertically integrated business model—where retail success funded real estate, and real estate empowered retail expansion.
This evolved into developing their own retail locations—starting with the Hing Wa Lee Plaza in Walnut in 2003, followed by the iconic 15,000-square-foot flagship store in San Gabriel in 2013. Today, Hing Wa Lee Group has three major divisions: retail, real estate, and an investment arm that funds a range of ventures and product categories. His company, Brilliant Realty & Real Estate Management in Arcadia, handles property management, acquisitions, and sales—solidifying control over every aspect of their empire.
David’s San Gabriel store is a showcase in itself, housing over 25 of the world’s top luxury watch and jewelry brands. His Larchmont Village location in Los Angeles pushes the envelope even further, featuring a Formula 1 Ferrari room and a Parisian-inspired rooftop lounge. These aren’t just stores—they are immersive experiences made possible by David’s unwavering belief in ownership and independence.
As he puts it: owning the land gives you the power to build without limits. And in David Lee’s case, that means building nothing less than excellence.
