Nanocrystalline　nickel　was　synthesized　by　direct　current　electrodeposition　from　a　modified　Watts-type　bath.　X-ray　diffraction　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　were　used　to　characterize　the　microstructure　of　nickel　deposits.　The　results　show　that　nanocrytalline　nickel　with　grain　sizes　in　the　range　of　20-50　nm　can　be　synthesized　from　saccharin-containing　Watts-type　baths　with　the　current　density　range　of　5-30　A/dm2.　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.