<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20



                    FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT


                             FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     Whitehall Jewellers, Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
grants to ______________ (the "Holder") as of _________ (the "Grant Date"),
pursuant to the provisions of the Company's 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"), a restricted stock award (the "Award) of ___ shares of the Company's
Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Stock"), upon and subject to the restrictions,
terms and conditions set forth below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall
have the meanings specified in the Plan.

     1. Award Subject to Acceptance of Agreement. The Award shall be null and
void unless the Holder shall (a) accept this Agreement by executing it in the
space provided below and returning it to the Company and (b) execute and return
one or more irrevocable stock powers to facilitate the transfer to the Company
(or its assignee or nominee) of all or a portion of the shares subject to the
Award, if shares are forfeited pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof or if required
under applicable laws or regulations. As soon as practicable after the Holder
has executed this Agreement and such stock power or powers and returned the same
to the Company, the Company shall cause to be issued in the Holder's name a
stock certificate or certificates representing the total number of shares of
Stock subject to the Award.

     2. Rights as a Stockholder. The Holder shall have the right to vote the
shares of Stock subject to the Award and to receive dividends and other
distributions thereon unless and until, and only to the extent, such shares are
forfeited pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof; provided, however, that a dividend or
other distribution with respect shares of Stock (including, without limitation,
a stock dividend or stock split), other than a regular cash dividend, shall be
delivered to the Company (and the Holder shall, if requested by the Company,
execute and return one or more irrevocable stock powers related thereto) and
shall be subject to the same restrictions as the shares of Stock with respect to
which such dividend or other distribution was made.

     3. Custody and Delivery of Certificates Representing Shares. The Company
shall hold the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Stock
subject to the Award until such Award shall have vested, in whole or in part,
pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof, and the Company shall as soon thereafter as
practicable, subject to Section 6.3, deliver the certificate or certificates for
the vested shares to the Holder and destroy the stock power or powers relating
to the vested shares. If such stock power or powers also relates to unvested
shares, the Company may require, as a condition precedent to delivery of any
certificate pursuant to this Section 3, the execution and delivery to the
Company of one or more stock powers relating to such unvested shares.

     4. Restriction Period and Vesting. (a) The Award shall vest (i) with
respect to one-third of the aggregate number of shares of Stock subject to the
Award on each anniversary of the Grant Date during the years _____ through
_____, inclusive, or (ii) earlier (x) pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, (y) upon
any termination of the Holder's employment with the Company unless such
termination of employment constitutes a "Nonqualifying Termination," as such
term is defined in the Holder's Severance Agreement with the Company dated
______ (the




<PAGE>   2

"Severance Agreement"), or (z) upon a "Change in Control" as that term is
defined in the Severance Agreement (the "Restriction Period").

     (b) If the Holder's employment by the Company terminates by reason of
retirement other than for Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Agreement) on
or after age 65, Disability or death, the Award shall become fully vested as of
the effective date of the Holder's termination of employment or the date of
death, as the case may be.

     (c) If the Holder's employment by the Company terminates for any reason
other than Good Reason, retirement on or after age 65 other than for Good
Reason, Disability or death or is terminated by the Company for Cause (as
defined in the Severance Agreement), if the Award has not vested as of the
effective date of the Holder's termination of employment or death, as the case
may be, such Award shall be forfeited by the Holder and shall be canceled by the
Company.

     5.   Termination of Award. In the event that the Holder shall forfeit the
shares of Stock subject to the Award, the Holder shall, upon the Company's
request, promptly return this Agreement to the Company for full cancellation.
Such cancellation shall be effective regardless of whether the Holder returns
this Agreement.

     6.   Additional Terms and Conditions of Award.

     6.1. Nontransferability of Award. During the Restriction Period, the shares
of Stock subject to the Award may not be transferred by the Holder other than by
will, the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to beneficiary
designation procedures approved by the Company. Except to the extent permitted
by the foregoing, during the Restriction Period, the shares of Stock subject to
the Award may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated,
encumbered or otherwise disposed of (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
or be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to
so sell, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or encumber, or otherwise dispose
of such shares, the Award shall immediately become null and void.

     6.2. Investment Representation. The Holder hereby represents and covenants
that (a) any shares of Stock acquired upon the vesting of the Award will be
acquired for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof within
the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
unless such acquisition has been registered under the Securities Act and any
applicable state securities law; (b) any subsequent sale of any such shares
shall be made either pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act and such state securities
laws; and (c) if requested by the Company, the Holder shall submit a written
statement, in form satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such
representation (x) is true and correct as of the date of acquisition of any
shares hereunder or (y) is true and correct as of the date of any sale of any
such shares, as applicable. As a further condition precedent to the delivery to
the Holder of any shares subject to the Award, the Holder shall comply with all
regulations and requirements of any regulatory authority having control of or
supervision over the issuance or delivery of the shares and, in connection
therewith, shall execute any documents which the Board or the Committee shall in
its



                                       2
<PAGE>   3

sole discretion deem necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities
Act, applicable state securities laws or the regulations or requirements of any
such regulatory authority. The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts, so long
as it is required to file periodic reports under Section 13 of the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to register the Stock on Form S-8 or a
successor form and maintain the effectiveness of such registration.

     6.3. Withholding Taxes. (a) As a condition precedent to the delivery to the
Holder of any shares of Stock subject to the Award, the Holder shall, upon
request by the Company, pay to the Company such amount of cash as the Company
may be required, under all applicable federal, state, local or other laws or
regulations, to withhold and pay over as income or other withholding taxes (the
"Required Tax Payments") with respect to the Award. If the Holder shall fail to
advance the Required Tax Payments after request by the Company, the Company may,
in its discretion, deduct any Required Tax Payments from any amount then or
thereafter payable by the Company to the Holder.

     (b) The Holder may elect to satisfy his or her obligation to advance the
Required Tax Payments by any of the following means: (1) a cash payment to the
Company pursuant to Section 6.3(a), (2) delivery (either actual delivery or by
attestation procedures established by the Company) to the Company of previously
owned whole shares of Stock (which the Holder has held for at least six months
prior to the delivery of such shares or which the Holder purchased on the open
market and for which the Holder has good title, free and clear of all liens and
encumbrances) having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the
obligation to withhold or pay taxes first arises in connection with the Award
(the "Tax Date"), equal to the Required Tax Payments, (3) authorizing the
Company to withhold from the shares of Stock otherwise to be delivered to the
Holder pursuant to the Award, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair
Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date, equal to the Required Tax Payments,
(4) a cash payment by a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company through whom the
Holder has sold the shares with respect to which the Required Tax Payments have
arisen or (5) any combination of (1), (2) and (3). So long as the Stock is
quoted on NASDAQ or quoted or listed on any recognized quotation service or a
national securities exchange, the Committee shall have sole discretion to
disapprove (but only in the case of clause (2) if such disapproval is reasonable
and if imposition of a reasonableness standard with respect to disapproval of
clause (3) does not prevent withholding transactions pursuant to clause (3) from
complying with the applicable condition of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act,
only in the case of clause (3) if such disapproval is reasonable) of an election
pursuant to clauses (2) or (3). Shares of Stock to be delivered or withheld may
have a Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount of the Required Tax
Payments, but not in excess of the amount determined by applying the Holder's
maximum marginal tax rate. Any fraction of a share of Stock which would be
required to satisfy such an obligation shall be disregarded and the remaining
amount due shall be paid in cash by the Holder. No certificate representing a
share of Stock shall be delivered until the Required Tax Payments have been
satisfied in full.

     6.4. Adjustment. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange
of shares, liquidation, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or
event, or any distribution to holders of Stock other than a regular cash
dividend, the number and class of securities subject to




                                       3
<PAGE>   4

the Award shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee (such adjustment to
be made reasonably and in good faith by the Committee). If any adjustment would
result in a fractional security being subject to the Award, the Company shall
pay the Holder in connection with the vesting, if any, of such fractional
security, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (is) such fraction
(rounded to the nearest hundredth) by (ii) the Fair Market Value on the vesting
date. The decision of the Committee regarding any such adjustment shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

     6.5.  Compliance with Applicable Law. The Award is subject to the condition
that if the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject to the
Award upon any securities exchange or under any law, or the consent or approval
of any governmental body, or the taking of any other action is necessary or
desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the vesting or delivery of
shares hereunder, the shares of Stock subject to the Award shall not vest or be
delivered unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval
shall have been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not approved by the
Company (which approval will not be unreasonably withheld). The Company agrees
to use reasonable efforts to effect or obtain any such listing, registration,
qualification, consent or approval.

     6.6.  Delivery of Certificates. Subject to Section 6.3, upon the vesting of
the Award, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered one or more
certificates representing the number of vested shares. The Company shall pay all
original issue or transfer taxes and all fees and expenses incident to such
delivery, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3.

     6.7.  Award Confers No Rights to Continued Employment. In no event shall
the granting of the Award or its acceptance by the Holder give or be deemed to
give the Holder any right to continued employment by the Company or any
affiliate of the Company.

     6.8.  Decisions of Board or Committee. Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 6.8, the Board or the Committee shall have the right to resolve all
questions and make any determinations which may arise in connection with the
Award (which rights shall be exercised reasonably and in good faith). Any
interpretation, determination or other action made or taken by the Board or the
Committee regarding the Plan or this Agreement shall be final, binding and
conclusive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of "Good Reason,"
"Change in Control" and "Nonqualifying Termination" shall be determined by
mutual agreement of the Board or the Committee, on the one hand, and the Holder,
on the other hand, or failing such agreement, by a court of competent
jurisdiction.

     6.9.  Agreement Subject to the Plan. This Agreement is subject to the
provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. The
Holder hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

     6.10. Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to cooperate with the Holder (if the Holder is subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act) to assure that any cash payment in accordance with Section
6.8(a) of the Plan is made in compliance with such Section 16 and the rules and
regulations thereunder..

     7.    Miscellaneous Provisions.






                                       4
<PAGE>   5

     7.1. Meaning of Certain Terms. As used herein, the term "vest" shall mean
no longer subject to forfeiture. As used herein, employment by the Company shall
include employment by a corporation which is a "subsidiary corporation" of the
Company as such term is defined in Section 424 of the Code. References in this
Agreement to sections of the Code shall be deemed to refer to any successor
section of the Code or any successor internal revenue law.

     7.2. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of any successor or successors of the Company and any person or persons
who shall, upon the death of the Holder, acquire any rights hereunder in
accordance with this Agreement or the Plan.

     7.3. Notices. All notices, requests or other communications provided for in
this Agreement shall be made, if to the Company, to Whitehall Jewellers, Inc.,
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary, and if to the
Holder, to __________. All notices, requests or other communications provided
for in this Agreement shall be made in writing either (a) by personal delivery
to the party entitled thereto, (b) by facsimile with confirmation of receipt,
(c) by mailing in the United States mails to the last known address of the party
entitled thereto or (d) by express courier service. The notice, request or other
communication shall be deemed to be received upon personal delivery, upon
confirmation of receipt of facsimile transmission, or upon receipt by the party
entitled thereto if by United States mail or express courier service; provided,
however, that if a notice, request or other communication is not received during
regular business hours, it shall be deemed to be received on the next succeeding
business day of the Company.

     7.4. Governing Law. This Agreement, the Award and all determinations made
and actions taken pursuant hereto and thereto, to the extent not otherwise
governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware and construed in accordance therewith without giving effect to
principles of conflicts of laws.




                                       5
<PAGE>   6

     7.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts each
of which shall be deemed an original and both of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

                                    WHITEHALL JEWELLERS, INC.

                                    By:      ________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:
Accepted this ____ day of

_________________, ____.



________________________
       [Holder]




                                       6