Palladium vs. Platinum for Diamond Settings: Is It a Safe Choice?

Question
My son wants to set the diamond I am giving him into a palladium setting, but my jeweler in South Africa is not keen on using it as he says it is too weak to use for setting a diamond.  Please advise as I don't want this .89 champagne diamond to be lost through using an inferior metal for its setting.

Answer
Verna
Palladium is becoming more popular as the choice NOBLE metal since Platinum is so expensive.....Palladium IS in the platinum family group of metals and it will be fine to use as long as the head is stamped as opposed to cast...
all the best
Les