Nanocrystalline　nickel　was　synthesized　by　direct　current　electrodeposition　from　a　modified　Watts-type　bath.　X-ray　diffraction　and　transmission　electron　microscope　were　used　to　characterize　the　microstructure　of　nickel　deposits.　The　results　show　that　nanocrytalline　nickel　with　grain　sizes　in　the　range　20　similar　to　50nm　can　be　synthesized　from　saccharin-containing　Watts-type　baths　with　current　density　range　5　similar　to　30A/dm(2).　There　existed　preferred　orientation　in　the　deposits　and　it　changed　progressively　from　a　(200)　fibre　texture　to　a　(111)　(200)　double　fibre　texture　as　saccharin　concentration　increased.　The　hardness　of　the　deposits　increased　prominently　as　grain　size　decreased　to　nanometer　range.