The present invention includes a high-quality, large-area bulk GaN seed crystal for ammonothermal GaN growth and method for fabricating. The seed crystal is of ultra-low defect density, has flat surfaces free of bowing, and is free of foreign substrate material. The seed crystal is useful for producing large-volume, high-quality bulk GaN crystals by ammonothermal growth methods for eventual wafering into large-area GaN substrates for device fabrication.