Nickel/zirconium oxide composite coatings were electrodeposited from a Watts electrolyte with and without the addition of coumarin as an organic additive under direct current regime for various values of current density j (A dm(-2)) and pH of the electrolyte. The electrodeposition process took place under strong hydrodynamic conditions on a stable cathode electrode. Plain nickel electrodeposits were also produced under the same electrodeposition conditions from an additive-free Watts bath in order to be used as reference. The aim of the present work is to study the influence of the codeposition of zirconium oxide particles in the metal matrix and the addition of coumarin in the bath on the texture, nickel crystallite size, surface morphology, Vickers microhardness and roughness of the deposits. The microstructure and properties of the electrodeposits affiliate with the electrolysis conditions and the synergic action of both the organic additive and the inert microparticles. This mechanism led to the preparation of composite electrocoatings oriented towards highly inhibited crystallographic axes, e.g. [211] and [110] with zirconia incorporation rates up to approximately wt 20 % and Vickers microhardness values 640 kp mm(-2).