Whitehall Jewellers (JWLR) DEFA14A Additional proxy soliciting materials

Exhibit 99.1

News Release

For Immediate Release For:
Contact: Whitehall Jewellers, Inc.
John R. Desjardins
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
312/762-9751

WHITEHALL JEWELLERS, INC. ANNOUNCES LOCATION FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JANUARY 25, 2006

Chicago, Illinois, January 18, 2006 – Whitehall Jewellers, Inc. (OTC: JWLR.PK; the “Company”) announced today that the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for January 25, 2006, will be held beginning at 10:00 AM, CST at the W Hotel Chicago City Center, 172 West Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois.

About Whitehall Jewellers

Whitehall Jewellers, Inc. is a national specialty retailer of fine jewelry, operating 376 stores in 38 states. The Company has announced that it intends to close a number of stores in the near term. The Company operates stores in regional and super regional shopping malls under the names Whitehall Co. Jewellers, Lundstrom Jewelers and Marks Bros. Jewelers.