Recently, a case of fraud in the art world has come to light: investment-cast gold sculptures hiding machined tungsten blocks inside. The intention is clear: to simulate a weight that would correspond to solid gold, cutting costs with a dense and much cheaper metal. Detecting it requires advanced digital forensic analysis.
Detection Pipeline: VGSTUDIO MAX and Geomagic Control X 🔍
The methodology to uncover the deception combines two key tools. First, VGSTUDIO MAX is used to perform a volumetric analysis through X-ray computed tomography. This software allows identifying internal inclusions, measuring their relative density, and generating a 3D model of the hidden block. Then, Geomagic Control X compares the resulting point cloud with the original CAD design of the piece. The discrepancy between the virtual volume and the actual weight reveals the presence of tungsten, since its density (19.3 g/cm³) is almost equal to that of gold (19.32 g/cm³), but its cost is a fraction.
The Art of Deceiving with an Almost Twin Metal 🎭
The curious thing about the case is that tungsten has almost the same density as gold. If the scammer had used lead, we would have caught him instantly with a simple magnet or a drill. But he chose a material so similar that only an X-ray scanner can tell them apart. It's like disguising yourself as your identical twin to sneak into a party: it works until someone asks for ID. In this case, VGSTUDIO MAX provided the ID.